Black Lives Matter 2020
The convulsions following the murder of George Floyd are a shock to America and to other countries world wide but the causes of this rage and anger are familiar and well known. Racism exists everywhere but its manifestation in the US is particularly vicious and deep-rooted in all sections of that society. The situation in the UK is not as encompassing, although some politicians and leaders feel no embarrassment or inhibition in expressing their violent prejudices and ignorance.
Babylon, Dir. Franco Rosso, UK, 1980
Forty years ago a group of filmmakers shared the experiences of mostly young black men in South London in the film Babylon. Babylon was the first film I backed as Managing Director of the National Finance Film Corporation. (In a previous role as head of production at the British Film Institute I had backed two films on black life in the UK : Pressure and Moon over the Alley)
US Cinema Release
March 8 2019 Rolling Stone Magazine: ‘Babylon’ Rising: The Resurrection of a Controversial U.K. Reggae Movie