Fire in Babylon

Fire in Babylon chronicles the rise of the West Indies cricket team that dominated world cricket during the 1970s and 1980s through its fearsome fast-bowling attack and powerful batting. Directed by Stevan Riley and released in 2010, the film uses archival footage and extensive interviews to place the team's sporting dominance within the context of Caribbean independence and racial politics.

The film features interviews with legendary West Indian players including captain Clive Lloyd, batting great Viv Richards, and fast bowlers Michael Holding, Andy Roberts, Joel Garner, and Colin Croft. It also includes commentary from opposing players and cricket journalists who faced or covered the team.

The documentary situates the West Indies cricket team's dominance within the broader context of post-colonial Caribbean identity, the Black Power movement, and the newly independent nations of the region. It argues that the team's aggressive fast-bowling tactics represented a form of sporting and political empowerment against the legacy of colonialism.

Fire in Babylon was directed by Stevan Riley, a British documentary filmmaker. The film was released in 2010 and was produced by Charles Steel and John Battsek, with distribution in the UK through Verve Pictures.