Film
Babylon
Banned from the New York Film Festival for “being too controversial, and likely to incite racial tension” (Vivien Goldman, Time Out) and never released in the US, Franco Rosso’s incendiary 1980 film follows a young dancehall DJ (Brinsley Forde, frontman of landmark British reggae group Aswad) in Thatcher-era South London as he pursues his musical ambitions while battling fiercely against the racism and xenophobia of employers, neighbors, police, and the National Front. Written by Martin Stellman (Quadrophenia) with beautiful, smoky cinematography by two-time Oscar winner Chris Menges (The Killing Fields), Babylon is fearless and unsentimental, tempered by the hazy bliss of the dancehall and set to a blistering reggae, dub, and lovers rock soundtrack anchored by Dennis Bovell. World Premiere at Cannes Critics’ Week.
Post-screening Q&As
Mar 7 at 7:30pm: Sneak preview and Q&A with Brinsley Forde and Dennis Bovell
Mar 8 at 7:30pm: Q&A with Brinsley Forde and Dennis Bovell, moderated by writer and NYU professor Vivien Goldman
Mar 9 at 7:30pm: Q&A with Brinsley Forde and Dennis Bovell, moderated by Carter Van Pelt, founder, Coney Island Reggae on The Boardwalk
Go to the movies just once a month and a BAM membership pays for itself.
