London – The Modern Babylon

A film by Julien Temple

London – The Modern Babylon is legendary director Julien Temple’s epic time-travelling voyage to the heart of his hometown.

From musicians, writers and artists to dangerous thinkers, political radicals and above all ordinary people, this is the story of London’s immigrants and bohemians and how together they changed the city forever. Reaching back to London at the start of the 20th century, the story unfolds through film archive and the voices of Londoners past and present, powered by the popular music from across the century. It ends in 2012, as London prepares to welcome the world as it hosts the Olympics.

‘Its collage technique, humanism and sympathy for ordinary people has much in common with the vision of Britain created by Danny Boyle’s team for the opening of the Olympics…A movie to cherish.’ Philip French, The Observer