Babylon Blu-ray
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Posted June 5, 2019 04:47 PM by Webmaster
Kino Lorber, in association with Seventy-Seven, have dated and detailed their upcoming Blu-ray release of Franco Rosso's cult film Babylon (1980). The release will be available for purchase on August 20.
Synopsis: Never-before released in the U.S., Franco Rosso's BABYLON had its world premiere at Cannes in 1980 but was deemed "too controversial, and likely to incite racial tension" (Vivien Goldman, TIME OUT) that same year and was never released in the U.S.. Raw and smoldering, it follows a young reggae DJ (Brinsley Forde, frontman of landmark British group Aswad) in Thatcher-era Brixton as he pursues his musical ambitions, while battling fiercely against the racism and xenophobia of employers, neighbors, police, and the National Front.
With THE WARRIORS as an inspiration, BABYLON was co-written by Martin Stellman (QUADROPHENIA) and shot by two-time Oscar® winner Chris Menges (THE KILLING FIELDS) with beautiful, smoky cinematography that's been compared to TAXI DRIVER. It's fearless and unsentimental, yet tempered by the hazy bliss of the dancehall set to a blistering reggae, dub, and lovers rock soundtrack featuring Aswad, Johnny Clarke, Dennis Bovell, and more.
Special Features:
Synopsis: Never-before released in the U.S., Franco Rosso's BABYLON had its world premiere at Cannes in 1980 but was deemed "too controversial, and likely to incite racial tension" (Vivien Goldman, TIME OUT) that same year and was never released in the U.S.. Raw and smoldering, it follows a young reggae DJ (Brinsley Forde, frontman of landmark British group Aswad) in Thatcher-era Brixton as he pursues his musical ambitions, while battling fiercely against the racism and xenophobia of employers, neighbors, police, and the National Front.
With THE WARRIORS as an inspiration, BABYLON was co-written by Martin Stellman (QUADROPHENIA) and shot by two-time Oscar® winner Chris Menges (THE KILLING FIELDS) with beautiful, smoky cinematography that's been compared to TAXI DRIVER. It's fearless and unsentimental, yet tempered by the hazy bliss of the dancehall set to a blistering reggae, dub, and lovers rock soundtrack featuring Aswad, Johnny Clarke, Dennis Bovell, and more.
Special Features:
- Audio commentary with director Franco Rosso, screenwriter Martin Stellman, actor Brinsley Forde, and producer Gavrik Losey
- DREAD BEAT AND BLOOD (1979), a short documentary on Linton Kwesi Johnson by Franco Rosso
- New interviews with Brinsley Forde and Dennis Bovell
- Restoration Featurette
- Reversible artwork
- Q&A with cast and crew (recorded at the BFI Southbank in 2008)
- Trailers
- *Booklet essay by music journalist Mike Rubin