Back in July we reported on the UK DVD release of one of the most highly regarded British cult movies of the 1980s, Franco Rosso's Babylon, a raw and incendiary film employing an effective mix of music and social commentary to recount the everyday experiences of a small group of working class black youths living in South London in the early 1980s. For those new to the film, a quick summary:

Mechanic and part-time sound system 'toaster' Blue (Brinsley Forde) and his Ital Lion crew are looking forward to their forthcoming reggae sound clash competition with rival outfit Jah Shaka. But as the event approaches, Blue's personal life begins to unravel. First he's fired from his job by his racist boss (played by Mel Smith) and then he begins to suspect his girlfriend is cheating on him. A further series of unpleasant racist incidents – including Blue being chased, brutally beaten and arrested by a group of plain-clothes policemen – culminates in Ital Lion's lock-up garage being broken into and their sound equipment being destroyed. Increasingly angered and alienated by what he perceives to be society's rejection of his race and his culture, Blue is compelled to respond by fighting fire with fire.

Driven by a musical score composed and arranged by legendary reggae guitarist, former member of Matumbi and record producer (The Thompson Twins, Madness) Dennis Bovell, with additional songs by Yabby U, I-Roy and Aswad, Babylon is a powerful, breathlessly energetic, neo-realist snapshot of what it was like to be young, poor and black in early 1980s Britain and remains as socially relevant today as it was almost 30 years ago.

Now Icon Home Entertainment, the people behind the October DVD, have announced a Blu-ray release of the film for 5th January 2009 at the RRP of £24.99. Extra features will include:

• Audio Commentary with Franco Rosso, Martin Stellman, Brinsley Forde and Gavrik Losey;
• Q&A with cast and crew recorded at the BFI South Bank on Thursday 11th September 2008;
• Restoration featurette.