Be United x Cinetopia present: Babylon (1980) + Live Performance by Rue Cooper & Michael Fallemann

Be United x Cinetopia present this special screening of Babylon (1980), followed by “We ‘Can’t Tek No More’ of That”: Sound as Resistance and Healing, a live interactive musical performance by Bahamian singer/songwriter Rue Cooper, accompanied by guitarist Michael Fallemann.

Tuesday 13 October 2026 | The Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh

Doors: 7:00pm | Film: 7:15pm | Live Performance: 9:00pm

Please note this is an 18+ venue so this event is for adults aged 18 and above only.

The event is part of Transmission: Youth Across Generations, a multi-event programme exploring how youth culture has shaped identity, belonging and collective memory in Britain from the 1980s to the present.

The film:

Set in Thatcher-era 1980s South London, Franco Rosso’s Babylon follows Blue, a young Jamaican sound system DJ in Brixton, as he and his crew prepare for a major Sound System competition. Set to an iconic soundtrack by Dennis Bovell, music helps drive the narrative as Blue navigates a world of racism, police brutality and systemic oppression, delivering an uncompromising look at Black British youth in the 1980s.

Babylon was banned from screens in the United States when it was first released as it was "too controversial, and likely to incite racial tension" (Time Out). It officially received its US theatrical release in 2019. More timely than ever is watching Babylon today: “a raw, fearless howl of defiance tempered by the hazy bliss of the dancehall” (Criterion Channel).

Babylon goes much further than treating youth culture as mere nostalgia. This event holds Babylon as a mirror to the structural injustices that persist across the UK today. Featuring archival imagery alongside modern images, the event bridges younger and older generations in a vital intergenerational dialogue.

Live performance:

The film will be followed by a short break before Rue Cooper and Michael Fallemann present “We ‘Can’t Tek No More’ of That”: Sound as Resistance and Healing, a live interactive musical performance from 9:00pm to 9:30pm.

Through live music and audience participation, Rue and Michael will explore how music can be a source of resistance and collective healing, challenging systemic power while simultaneously creating a space for emotional release, community belonging and lasting solidarity.

Young Programmer - Muratiwa Chinake:

This event is curated by young programmer Muratiwa Chinake, a Zimbabwean filmmaker, curator and marketing professional based in Glasgow. Muratiwa's creative and written work centres on representation and storytelling using childhood nostalgia and mythology to explore themes of gender, race and sexuality. Muratiwa possesses a flair for the dramatic and a love for anything genre-bending. Some of Muratiwa's favourite films are “Bottoms”, “Moonlight”, “Mami Wata” and “The Birdcage”.

From Muratiwa:

“I am screening Babylon because I love that the film focuses not only on the music but also on the political conversation surrounding Black British youth during Thatcherism. The film is unapologetic in nature, which has helped it remain a cult classic, as the social injustices it highlights still resonate in the UK today. Its characters share relatable traits like striving to get further in their career, building a home and community and just finding a place to belong. Thus, pairing the film with a live music performance and archives helps bridge the past, present, and future, showing how sound can be used as a vehicle for intergenerational resistance and healing.”

About Rue Cooper:

Rue Cooper is a singer and songwriter from Nassau, Bahamas. Making a name for herself throughout Scotland as the “woman of soul,” classic gospel melodic influences are evident in Rue’s style as an emerging vocalist bringing a reimagined, unique take on Soul, Pop and R’n’B to Edinburgh and beyond.

Rue’s musical influences include Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin, Lauryn Hill and Sam Smith, as she believes singing’s true beauty lies in its ability to express intimate and authentic messages. Her songs explore womanhood, intimacy, self-discovery and family ties as she unpacks the central question of her work: what does it mean to be? Raw sentimentality is one of Rue's trademark touches that she brings to every performance, creating a listening experience that is all parts vulnerable and electric, uniquely hers.

About Michael Fallemann:

Michael Fallemann is a self-taught guitarist based in Edinburgh, Scotland. After deciding to seriously pick up the guitar in 2017, his playing style is characterised by his razor-sharp senses and accurate ear. His musical influences include John Mayer, Dire Straits, Eric Clapton and The Police, as he draws inspiration from their emotive playing styles.

Currently, Michael is the guitarist and co-arranger for Rue Cooper. From 2022 to August 2026, he was part of The World Before, a five-piece disco-soul band that made its debut at the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival in November 2022. So far, Michael’s musical journey has led to numerous gigs across Edinburgh’s finest music venues, such as Whistle Binkies, Stramash, The Caves, La Belle Angele and The Jazz Bar, as well as international tours.

Be United:

Be United advocates for, nurtures and champions Black people working across Scotland’s performing arts, music, screen and cultural events sectors. We create pathways into employment, paid opportunities, professional development and industry networks, helping Black creatives build sustainable careers and stronger connections across the sector.

Through our employability programmes, events, artist development, partnerships and Creative Partnerships Conference, we connect emerging and established talent with employers, commissioners, cultural organisations and each other. Our work is increasingly active across Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen, strengthening connections within Scotland’s Black and African diaspora communities while building bridges into the wider creative industries.

At the heart of Be United is a belief that talent should not only have access to the industry, but the networks, knowledge and opportunities needed to thrive, lead and shape its future.

This screening is part of Cinetopia’s TRANSMISSION: YOUTH ACROSS GENERATIONS programme, a multi-event programme exploring how youth culture has shaped identity, belonging and collective memory in Britain from the 1980s to the present. TRANSMISSION is part of Rip It Up, supported by Film Hub Scotland as part of the BFI Film Audience Network (FAN), made possible by the National Lottery.

Cinetopia is a film events and exhibition company based in Edinburgh with a mission to connect the film industry, foster conversations and produce engaging opportunities for audiences to experience cinema through film screenings, pop-up cinema, workshops, masterclasses and networking events.

Location:
The Voodoo Rooms
19a West Register Street
Edinburgh EH2 2AA