Babylon 2

Switzerland has known periods of emigration long before the country became a migratory destination for many people. But now that the first, second and third generations of foreigners constitute a fifth of the Swiss population and in view of the spread of xenophobia in Europe, the problems of assimilation, identity and the history of these foreign nationals are more topical than ever. In this personal documentary, Samir, a child of immigrants, reconstructs his youth in an outer suburb of a Swiss city. He uses archive material, returns to several locations and has a series of conversations - via an alter ego - with other immigrant children. Babylon 2 is also a debate about the role of the mass media in modern society. Samir argues that inhabitants of modern suburbs are immigrants, cut off from their original region. This alienation is amplified by the levelling nature of the mass media. On the other hand, modern media can help to strengthen cultural identity. (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam)