BROOKLYN BABYLON The complexities of a relationship between two people from completely different worlds. Solomon is black. His spiritual background is Rastafarian. Sarah is white. She comes from a Hasidic Jewish background. REVIEW BY SIMON REMARK
BROOKLYN BABYLON (May 22, 2001 direct to video) This page was created on July 03, 2001 This page was last updated on May 23, 2005
Directed by Marc Levin Writing credits Marc Levin, Bonz Malone, and Pam Widener Tariq Trotter .... Sol Karen Goberman .... Sara David Vadim .... Judah Bonz Malone .... Scratch Joanne Baron .... Rose Daniel Serafini-Sauli Produced by Joanne Baron (co-producer), Alex Gibney (executive producer), Henri M. Kessler (producer), Bonz Malone (associate producer), Jake Myers (co-producer), Rich Nichols (co-producer), David Peipers (executive producer), John Sloss (executive producer), Ezra Swerdlow (producer), Lisa West (associate producer) Cinematography by Mark Benjamin Film Editing by Emir Lewis MPAA: Rated R for language, and for some violence, sexuality and drug use.
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Love's ability to cross social boundaries.
STUDIO SYNOPSIS: BROOKLYN BABYLON is a story of love's ability to cross social boundaries. A young upcoming rapper, Sol (played by Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter, lead singer of rap group The Roots) falls for Sara, (Karen Goberman) a young attractive Jewish woman. The effects of their love echo across the boundaries that both of their faiths and communities have in place against mixed romances.
Review by SIMON REMARK simon_remark@hotmail.com Film Reviewer Simon graduated from Trinity Western University where he studied film under prolific screenwriter Ned Vankevich. He prefers independent and lower-budget films.
Brooklyn Babylon looks at the complexities of a relationship between two people from completely different worlds. Solomon (Tariq Trotter) is black. He's an MC. His hip-hop group is trying to succeed while remaining independent. His spiritual background is Rastafarian. Sarah (Karen Goberman) is white. She comes from a Hasidic Jewish background. Her family is very traditional; dogmatic; deeply religious. Yet Sol and Sarah share an obstinate love and compassion for one another.
The film begins by going back and forth between each character, highlighting some cultural differences: Sol and his group (The Roots) practicing, Sarah at a traditional Jewish wedding. Sol and Sarah's worlds collide at an intersection dividing the Jewish and black communities in Brooklyn when their cars crash. She is driving home from the wedding with her fiancé-whom she doesn't love-and a few other young men. Sol is driving home with his manager, a long-time friend. And while Sol's manager and Sarah's fiancé curse at one another-Sol's manager tells the Jews they are on the wrong side of the dividing line-Sarah and Sol share an enchanting moment; their attraction to one another seems apparent.
Sol and Sarah again cross paths not long after this incident in a beautiful garden that joins their respective neighborhoods. They share a mutual allure that is evident in the way they look at and talk to each other. But Sarah is scared of what may happen if the two are seen together because of the existing prejudices amongst the blacks and Jews in Brooklyn. Her fear intensifies when her fiancé's car is bombed: she thinks Sol and his manager are involved until she confronts Sol about the occurrence and sees that he is genuinely hurt that she would suspect him.
The car bombing exacerbates the already shaky relationship between the neighboring blacks and Jews; however, Sol and Sarah continue to pursue their interest in one another amidst the turmoil. "I know you," he says to her during an early conversation, pointing out a mystical connection between the two. And as their relationship grows, the conflict between the blacks and Jews grows also.
One interesting aspect of the film is how the elders of each religion respond to Sol and Sarah's relationship, and interracial relationships in general. During a family dinner Sarah asks her father why they never have anyone other than Jews in their home if their mandate is to love their neighbors. Her father can't come up with a sufficient reason. In contrast, when Sol discusses the subject with the Rastafarian elders they are much more accepting: love is love; they explain that race doesn't matter.
Some viewers might argue that the film is somewhat anti-Semitic, but Brooklyn Babylon takes the same approach as Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing by showing each race involved in the film's various conflicts as equally flawed. Both the blacks and Jews caught up in the ongoing struggles are shown as equally narrow-minded and intolerant. Neither race is favored over the other.
The film's premise is that love can overcome adversity, no matter how tremendous. And while this theme may seem cliché, or overdone, screenwriter Marc Levin (Slam) presents this story creatively; Brooklyn Babylon has an original, mystical feel and spiritual ambiance to it. The theme is brought to life through creative narration and biblical allusions. And first timer Tariq Trotter, hip-hop MC Black Thought of The Roots, seems very natural in his role as the film's protagonist. His first few exchanges with Sarah have that awkward, exciting feel of a budding relationship.
Another interesting characteristic of the film is Sol's devotion to his art form. When his manager presents him with a contract, which includes a large signing bonus, Sol turns it down, deciding instead to maintain creative control of his music. He refuses to compromise, just as he refuses to compromise his faith and love for Sarah.
-Simon S. Remark simon_remark@hotmail.com
BROOKLYN BABYLON REVIEW Subject: Brooklyn_Babylon Date: Sun, 24 Feb 2002 From: Gettye Israel As a Black woman- who is also a Hebrew- I was totally insulted by the premise of this purported movie. This was nothing more than Hollywood's continual perpetuation of the "Negro" man in pursuit of the white female, and religion was just an added twist. Yet, we are suppose to think this movie was progressive and challenging. Why is it considered progressive for a black male and white female to be intimately involved? This is the same old tired image of inter-racial relationships being depicted in film, television, advertisments, and too often in real life. There was nothing unique in this story, nothing we haven't seen many times before. When will the Black female ever be the subject of an inter-racial relationship? Why is it that white men are absolutely never shown pursuing Black women or expressing the slightest interest in them? White men control all the major institutions in the Western world, namely the U.S.; however, he is consistently shown with the white woman. The white male is never depicted intimately with the Black female because Hollywood does not want to disrespect and insult it white female market. However, it has no regards for Black women's feelings. This pitiful portrayal of inter-racial "love" props up the white female as a model of femininity and sensuality. In other words, a man, particularly a Black man, will give up family, friends, finance and even his life in the pursuit of a white woman. Finally, Sheba was a woman of African descent; she was not a pale face European. Tariq Trotter wears locks and professes to be African-centered but obviously he is a liar and a perpetrator. Gettye Israel Journalist BROOKLYN BABYLON PRAYING Subject: Brooklyn_Babylon Date: 22 Feb 2002 From: "DeSade" for god to stop this movie and smite it's creators. just becuse you make a political statment doe not give you the right to make a horrible movie. LOVED THIS MOVIE Subject: Brooklyn_Babylon Date: Sun, 9 Dec 2001 From: CLB I loved this movie. Both characters were played exceptionally well. You could truly feel the chemistry between them (it was very sensual, very real) and the story was well written. The park and garden scenes were visually rich and shot beautifully. The tension between the two races/religions was strongly felt and quite riveting. I especially enjoyed the string over beats in the score as well as Tariq's performances with his band. I hope to see him in more movies. Props to the director as well. Slam was a wonderfully made film as well. Peace. CLB. BEST MOVIE IN YEARS Subject: Brooklyn_Babylon Date: Sun, 9 Dec 2001 From: "nonya" I just watched the movie for the first time on BET and it was the best movie i have seen in years this movie has a point that i think a lot of people in this world need to look at the characters were so opend minded about the things that were going on and this is what i liketo see in movies all the way from Anchorage Alaska Showing much love for Brooklyn i hope for more mocies like this holla BLESSED Subject: Brooklyn_Babylon Date: Sun, 2 Dec 2001 From: "Lubica" Seeing the movie was a great expereince for me. I love the spirituality of it. You dont see that in many movies (and it looked so real too). It touched me greatly. It is my new favourite movie. I like that it wasn't 'Hollywood polished' because that made the story and the characters more real. Great cast as well. (I also really liked the whole Solomon and Cheba story... ) I have nothing but possitive thoughts about this movie...! At first i was a bit sceptical, because it seems that it is becoming a fashion in these days to have a black guy - white girl couple... (why not black girl- white guy???) but the movie took the whole thing to another level. 'nuff love Empress Response: It sure did. Thanks -David PRAYING FOR IGNORANCE TO END Subject: Brooklyn_Babylon Date: Fri, 30 Nov 2001 From: LiL Bit keep praying for all this ignorance to end and for people to open their minds and hearts and see the interior rather than judge whose inferior, pray for respect and God , Jah , Allah..... to bring peace over the world. FOR EVERYBODY STRIVING FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVE IN , DON'T STOP , NEVER STOP. DON'T LET HATE TEAR LOVE OR THIS WORLD APART. LIL'BIT Response: Prayer is a good thing. -David APPEALING PREMISE Date: Sun, 26 Aug 2001 From: "Janet Fisher" Thought the premise was appealing and set a platform for enough tension and depth to fuel the film's characters and plot. The cinematography was visually rich and captured my eye. Unfortunately the film print at BAM Rose theater was technically flawed and had to be rewound or fast forwarded. Janet Fisher
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