Rains Over Babel

A tropical, neon-lit bar filled with colorful figures, drag queens throwing shade, and the Grim Reaper herself sets the stage for an epic life-and-death adventure. The party never stops even as Babel’s owner nervously awaits news of his missing headliner—the show is the only thing standing between him and a loan shark’s retribution. Meanwhile a preacher’s son agonizes over his upcoming drag debut, an ex-soldier hopes the night will see the end of long servitude, and a young woman puts her own life on the line to save her ailing daughter. All find themselves journeying through a kind of hell on earth in this dark comic fantasy inspired by Dante’s Inferno. Blending Afrofuturism, surrealism, and steampunk, director Gala del Sol’s first feature is an ambitious feat soaring on vibrant cinematography, brilliant production design, a unique story, and a terrific ensemble of trans and queer characters. —Kristal Sotomayor