In a world a long, long ago, there was Wild Style, the film that can be legitimately called the first
hip-hop film ever made.
The low budget musical docu-drama, directed by Charlie Ahearn, revolves around the
life of a New York City graffiti
artist, played by real-life graffiti artist Lee
Quinones, as he deals with his life, his work and his relationship with a
fellow artist Rose (Sandra Fabara). It features performances by hip-hop luminaries of the day like Grandmaster
Flash, Fab Five Freddy, Rock Steady Crew and Cold Crush Brothers, and can rightly claim to be one of the very few films ever made that had a ground-breaking cultural impact.
The film’s success led to other similar films, such as Style Wars and Michael Schultz’s Krush Groove with Run DMC, Sheila E and New Edition.
And even, unfortunately, Cannon Film’s Breakin, and Breakin
2, with Boogaloo Shrimp and Shabba Doo.
But let’s not go there; instead I will tell you that Music Box Films will release a special 30th
anniversary collector’s edition DVD of Wild Style, on October 1st, which will include a newly-remastered version
of the film, and a collection of new and never-before-seen bonus materials, plus a 48-page booklet written by the director Charlie
Ahearn.
Aside from the feature length commentary by Ahearn and Fab Five Freddy, the DVD set will also include 7 featurettes about the film, and 7 interviews as well, including a new one with Quinones.
The film will also be released on the same date on all digital platforms, and, for those in New York, the film is still slated for a one-week theatrical engagement at The IFC Center, starting today, Friday, September 27th – Thursday, October 3rd.
Director Charlie Ahearn will be at the theater, in person for the Friday, September 27 & Saturday, September 28 screenings, for Q&As, at the 9:55pm shows. He’ll be at the 11:45pm shows as well, but only to intro the film, not for a post-screening Q&A.
More details here: http://www.ifccenter.com/films/wild-style-2/
Below is a newly released clip from the film, followed by its original release trailer:
