Babylon

Never before released in the US, the incendiary Babylon premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 1980 but was rejected from the New York Film Festival for “being too controversial, and likely to incite racial tension,” as Vivien Goldman reported in Time Out. The drama follows a young reggae dancehall DJ (Brinsley Forde, front man of the landmark British reggae group Aswad) as he pursues his musical career while battling against the racism and xenophobia of employers, neighbors, police, and the far-right National Front. Fearless and unsentimental, the movie joins the pantheon of such legendary reggae films as The Harder They Come and Rockers. With cinematography by the great Chris Menges and featuring music by Aswad, Dennis Bovell, Johnny Clarke & Jah Shaka, Michael Prophet, and more. (95 mins., DCP)

Please note: due to an expected high volume of event traffic on campus Saturday, June 8, parking is suggested in the surrounding area at meters and free/open parking east of High Street.