Babylon (18)

2 Tony Wilson Place

Thu 8 Oct · 18:15

Damien Chazelle · 120m · Film

About this event

Dir Franco Rosso/GB 1980/95 mins Brinsley Forde, Karl Howman, Archie Pool Blue, a young Rastafarian musician, has his sights set on winning on a Sound System competition, but his creative and personal ambitions are thwarted at every turn as a Black man living in 1980s Britain. Set against the backdrop of a newly-installed Thatcher government, the end of punk and the rise of mod and ska, and featuring a raucous reggae soundtrack, Babylon is a potent mix of music and social realism. Key figures from the British reggae scene of the time appear in front of and behind the camera. Brinsley Forde, a founder member of Aswad, stars as Blue; while the film’s iconic soundtrack comes from Dennis Bovell. The film’s cinematic pedigree is equally impressive. Screenwriter Martin Stellman (Quadrophenia) and director Franco Rosso (Dread, Beat and Blood) present an uncompromising look at urban survival on the streets of South London, expertly shot by celebrated cinematographer Chris Menges (The Killing Fields).

More at HOME Manchester →

Follow the thread

From this venue’s worldManchester TheatreDiscover Manchester's celebrated theatres, from historic institutions to bold contemporary performance spaces.From this venue’s worldManchester FlagshipsStart with the cultural institutions that define Manchester.LineageContemporary theatreTrace other Manchester rooms working in this tradition.LineageIndependent filmTrace other Manchester rooms working in this tradition.LineageVisual artsTrace other Manchester rooms working in this tradition.Adjacent this weekBigger Than Life Presents: Miami ViceCultplex Adjacent this weekLa Femme infidèle (15)HOME Manchester Adjacent this weekSurvive Style 5+Cultplex

A different kind of night

Not the same tradition as the lineage above — a genuinely different thread to pull, if you want one.

TalkThe Forgotten Library: Collection EncounterUniversity of Manchester Public Events TalkRare ReadsUniversity of Manchester Public Events ExhibitionMeet the London Mining NetworkManchester Museum

Film data fromThis product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.