Babylon is a film that focuses on the people who worked in the early American film industry, following the development of a barren desert town in Los Angeles into a cultural giant known as "Hollywood". Directed and written by Damien Chazelle (known for Whiplash and La La Land), and shot by cinematographer Linus Sandgren (known for La La Land and No Time to Die), the film meticulously portrays the early American film industry and reproduces the filmmaking process of the time. In addition to a high-concept "cast of thousands", the film features Diego Calva and Margot Robbie (Known for About Time, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and Suicide Squad) as the main characters, as well as Brad Pitt, and the supporting actors Tobey Maguire (Known for The Great Gatsby) and John Alldredge (Known for Fences and Dominion).
Although there have been criticisms that Babylon is a chaotic and poor representation of history, it is not inferior to any other films depicting the transition from silent to sound in the film industry. Furthermore, some rare historical research, such as the working conditions of women and minorities in the early film industry and the bohemian lifestyle in Los Angeles, are brought to the screen by the director.
Strangely speaking, my biggest gripe with Babylon is not its deviation from real history, which is within the realm of artistic license, but rather the excessive focus on early film production at the expense of narrative coherence. Additionally, the film raises questions about the stories behind the camera, but leaves them unanswered. Nevertheless, audiences interested in Hollywood leftist issues will be enthralled by this visually stunning and era-appropriate spectacle.
Did early Hollywood really have crazy parties like in the movies?
Yes - at least for some people. During Prohibition, alcohol consumption increased, especially in Los Angeles. Drinking was given the label of a "fad" along with drugs, and became part of the lifestyle sought after by thrill-seekers. Drug use was rampant in film studios because before the 1914 Harrison Narcotics Tax Act, opiates such as heroin and morphine were easily obtainable, and enforcement remained lax for the following decade.
Does Los Angeles really live up to the free-spirited and violent portrayal in Babylon?
The violence depicted in Babylon has a basis in reality. In the process of modernization, Los Angeles experienced a population boom in the 1910s and became the largest city in California in the 1920s, with an increasing number of homeless people settling there. During the time depicted in the film, firearms, drugs, and bootleg alcohol were rampant, and Angelenos experienced more home invasions and homicides than in other cities. Having so many jobless people gathered in a city where civic structures had not yet formed often meant chaos and corruption.
Who is the real-life inspiration behind Nellie LaRoy, played by Margaret Robbie?
The character of Nellie LaRoy is based on Clara Bow. During the film's promotion, Robbie talked about her research into Clara's life and how it influenced her portrayal. "Her childhood was the most horrific thing I could ever imagine," Robbie said. Clara grew up in impoverished Brooklyn (changed to New Jersey in the film), with a mother who was a schizophrenic and attempted to kill her and an alcoholic father who may have sexually abused her. Robbie followed the director's in the studio, crying on cue repeatedly like a machine, and her powerful tear ducts may have come from her own tragic past. In the film, when LaRoy explains how she could have this talent, her response is "All I have to do is think of home."
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