Now a feature film, Babylon debuted in 2022 at the American film festival as an epoch July in the life of ‘L.A” drama alongside the works of Damien Chazelle as its director and main writer. Chazelle skillfully blending his characters with the film’s energetic and visually flamboyant elements, transports audiences to the 1920’s in Los Angeles where Babylon maintains its story. Chazelle dives into the turbulent, transitional era of the film industry where silent films were being traded globally, and the dreams and ambitions of early Hollywood were taking flight.
Joined by Diego Calva, Margot Robbie, Brad Pitt, Jovan Adepo, and Li Jun Li, the film serves as a canvas where glowing notions of imagination and the ruthlessness of creative identity are painted and left with an imprint of fame’s insatiability.
In this part, the film encompasses the story of multiple individuals, joined together by interconnections, families, or work during the raising and then the falling of the golden era of Hollywood. The primary character is Manuel rather affectionately “Manny” Torres, a passionate film industry follower who, with his creativity, strives to work in the industry while a working Latin American descendant migrant. As the child of an immigrant, his initial trek is characterized by and represents a deep yearning to be “somebody” irrespective of his passion; as he works behind the movies in the extravagant film parties and chaotic film sets.
It is at one of these grand, luxurious parties that Manny first encounters Nellie LaRoy, an ambitious and exceptionally skilled performer who arrives in Hollywood with a determination to become a star. Nellie’s unbridled exuberance and her dauntless self-assurance enable her to become an object of interest. Manny is mesmerized by Nellie and pays close attention to her career as she swiftly ascends to the apex of success.
Another primary character is Jack Conrad, a famous actor in the silent film industry known for his remarkable talents and magnetic charm. Jack is experiencing his peak of success, but is also struggling with the abrupt transformation of the film industry with the advent of sound. People beginning to prefer new auditory additions and different methods of storytelling proves to be quite a challenge for Jack.
Additional to the primary characters are others who, like Jack Conrad, provide another perspective to the changing world of cinema. Jack joins the list of characters like Sidney Palmer, a jazz musician who becomes part of Hollywood with the advent of sound, and Lady Fay Zhu, a performer with a powerful voice and graceful presence on the stage and screen.
As the film unfolds, the narrative intricately intertwines the characters’ inner struggles with external realities. Throughout the industry’s transformation, the characters encounter profound joy, triumph, despair, and disenchantment. Both Manny and Nellie seem to achieve success while Jack comes to grips with the uncomfortable truth of dwindling relevance.
More than anything, Babylon is a stark reminder of the ephemeral nature of fame; how quickly one can rise, only to fall moments later. In shedding light on the deep immortal emotional bonds cinema catalyzes, that the impact of the people who endlessly devote themselves to the seventh art is also something to be cherished.
Characters
Manny Torres – As played by Diego Calva, Manny is the story’s emotional anchor. Moored by the narrative’s gravity, Manny, a film assistant who effortlessly hops to film Executive by the story’s conclusion, captures the frenzied evolution of America’s golden years. Ever passionate and devoted, he is on a the film quest.
Nellie LaRoy – Margot Robbie’s portrayal of Nellie captures both the complexity of the character and the descibed qualities; lady with drive who dreams big. With emotional texture, the film illustrates behind the fame experiencing the rock, and her marriage to the character of Manny is a servant.
Jack Conrad – In the film, Jack is played by the stupendous Brad Pitt. He gracefully and charmingly illustrates the drastic Clown’s in character Smooth who the snaps of his fingers and with a rage gives birth to a Braham and, with that, makes brutally savage his marriage with.Sidney Palmer and Lady Fay Zhu are two characters that highlight differing cultural viewpoints and demonstrate the power that art has to accept or reject people based on prevailing social customs and norms.
Themes
- The Price of Ambition
One overarching and poignant message in the film ‘Babylon’ is that of the price of one’s dreams. Each character in the film has to pay some price whether emotional, personal or professional. Either Manny in the film, who works herculean hours to establish herself in the ever elusive, Nellie who is engaged in an all-elusive constant fight to remain reigning or Jack who has to struggle all the time to remain in the limelight, has to pay some price. Siddharthan suggests that the film does not falsely depict the reality of the world, in that, in all cases it is possible to reinforce the ‘No Pain, No Gain’ approach.
- Change and Transformation
The shift from silent to sound films is one of the key turning points in the storyline of the film. The old world system and its then active participants in one way or the other are all left to learn some skill in order to remain survivable, else the alternative is to perish. The film in some ways acts as a teacher on the subject that while every change is not easy, is a necessity. It also, and this is very important to also study on, whether as filmmakers or audiences, portrays that every industry has progress and unarguably advancement in their field is always welcome, even if it comes with some painful truths.
- Legacy and Remembrance
As seen in the film, Babylon pays tribute to the dedication and passion of film makers and artists who create timeless art, even if their names get lost in history. The film understands that not every story will be remembered, rather, the spirit and impact of the early creators will be in the stories that get narrated in the present and in the future.
- Identity and Belonging
Manny is an outcast due to the world not being very accepting of him. Even so, his desire to fit in shapes the world around him. The film reveals the plight of people at different levels of the social and cultural ladder, highlighting the ways in which they manage to create a space for themselves in the workplace that is very often a gatekept domain.
Visual style and Direction
It is not news that Damien Chazelle loves music and pays a lot of attention to the visual aesthetics of his films. Babylon is no different. The film is a visual spectacle and the music score diplomatically composed by Justin Hurwitz, complements every phase of the characters’ lives, lifting and refreshing every moment with emotion and vigor.
In what appears to be a reflection of the 1920s Los Angeles, the production design is masterful. Immense detail and care were taken in crafting the film sets. The film immerses the audience in that time and place, capturing the frenzy of film sets, grand theaters, and the energy of jazz clubs.
Reception
Babylon sparked various opinions from both critics and viewers. While some praised the film’s visual aesthetic and story’s ambition and passion for filmmaking, others deemed the film’s pacing and structure unmastered and problematic. Taking the complexity of the reviews into consideration, one consensus is that the acting, specifically by Margot Robbie and Diego Calva, was robust.
The film was awarded with nominations for various awards, most notably for technical accomplishments such as production and costume design and musical score.
Conclusion
Babylon is an emotional and daring film that serves as an homage to the people that built and continue to build the cinema world, including the people who work behind the camera. He heart of the film is set during a pivotal point in film history that is brought to life with innovation and passion- exploring how change, ambition, and creativity influence the lives of those who dream big.
Art is made with the intention of being remembered for and belonging to the people. The film, while chronicling the accounts of Manny, Nellie, and Jack, wonders what it means to create. Babylon is an important reminder, especially in the context of the world today, that while the times may change and progress, the desire to create and tell stories is something that will never change.
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