Subscribe to watch - 14-day free trial, then £4.99 a month

Babylon 15 rating

A young Rastafarian toaster (rapper) aims for success at a Reggae Sound System competition, in this cult classic from Franco Rosso that pulsates with an irresistible dub soundtrack.

Drama 1980 95 mins

Director: Franco Rosso

CC

Overview

While hoping to win a Sound System competition, Blue (Brinsley Forde) looks to fight against the struggles he faces as a Black man 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. Screenwriter Martin Stellman (Quadrophenia) and director 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).

Accessibility