London: The Modern Babylon

A time-travelling voyage from director Julien Temple 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, its bohemians and how together they changed the city forever. Reaching back to the dawn of film in London at the start of the 20th century, the story unfolds through film archive., Documenting historic events and cultural changes in London throughout the city’s history., A time-travelling voyage from director Julien Temple 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, its bohemians and how together they changed the city forever. Reaching back to the dawn of film in London at the start of the 20th century, the story unfolds through film archive. Using the voices of Londoners past and present and the flow of popular music across the century, the film creates a stream of urban consciousness, which comes to a finish as London prepares to welcome the world to the 2012 Olympics., A time-travelling voyage from director Julien Temple 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, its bohemians and how together they changed the city forever. Reaching back to the dawn of film in London at the start of the 20th century, the story unfolds through film archive. Using the voices of Londoners past and present and the flow of popular music across the century, the film creates a stream of urban consciousness, which comes to a finish as London prepares to welcome the world to the 2012 Olympics. A premiere showing as part of the Cultural Olympiad.