Babylon

Drawing its name from the Rastafari term for oppressive, corrupt structures, Franco Rosso’s ode to reggae and dub gives fiery expression to the frustrations and indignations of Black youth living in the early years of Thatcherism. Set in South London, Babylon follows young reggae DJ Blue (played by Aswad frontman Brinsley Forde) and his friends in the Ital Lion Sound System. As they prepare for a sound system clash with The Mighty Jah Shaka crew, they must navigate openly racist employers, neighbours, the National Front, and violent police harassment condoned by the Conservative government’s revival of the repressive “sus” law, anticipating the anger that would lead to the riots in Brixton one year later. Loosely inspired by his run-in with the law on trumped-up charges of inciting a riot while running a sound system, music producer Dennis Bovell provides a propulsive dub and roots…