A strikingly honest portrait of Thatcher era racism in South London, Babylon tells the story of Blue (Brinsley Forde M.B.E), as he pursues his musical passions while navigating day to day systemic racism and anti-immigrant sentiment. Punctuated by Dennis Bovell and Aswad’s excellent soundtrack, the film’s emphasis on sound-system and reggae & dub culture as a form of powerful political resistance stands as a testament to its enduring relevance today, in both Leeds and the wider UK.

DIRECTED BY Franco Rosso
United Kingdom
English
1980
95 MINS
15

Presented for Scalarama by Quick Thinking @Quickthinkingleeds