Tim Robbins follows the powerful and critically acclaimed Dead Man Walking with a panoramic view of New York's exciting political and artistic world. Cradle Will Rock presents a rich tapestry of The Big Apple in the1930s, where artists strive for freedom of expression.

As labour strikes break out throughout the country, New York City is alive with a burgeoning cultural revolution. Nelson Rockefeller (John Cusack) commissions Mexican artist Diego Rivera (Ruben Blades) to paint the lobby of the Rockefeller Center, and Italian propagandist Margherita Sarfatti (Susan Sarandon) offers Da Vincis to millionaires to support the Mussolini war effort.

A paranoid ventriloquist (Bill Murray) tries to rid his vaudeville troupe of communists, while a 22-year-old Orson Welles (Angus MacFadyen) directs his theatre group in an infamous stage production of Mark Blitzstein's Cradle Will Rock, starring Aldo Silvano (John Turturro) and Olive Stanton (Emily Watson).

The performance is closed down on the eve of its opening by soldiers of the US government. When controversy prevents their proper performance of a play by the socialist-minded composer, the troupe moves to a smaller theatre and does the performance on the fly - union rules prevented them from using props, costumes, or even performing on a stage. This is the story of performing artists determined to make sure the show does go on.

Robbins' career has been consistently strong since he sky-rocketed to fame in the role of the haywire pitcher in Ron Shelton's Bull Durham. As an actor he's surprisingly versatile, pulling off comic and sinister roles, and his move into directing shows the same potential.

Robbins doesn't go for the easy effect. He lets his actors stretch, bringing something deep and unexpected to the proceedings. Sean Penn's performance was enriched by the empathetic eye of Robbins, which helped us find compassion for a killer in Dead Man Walking and made us sympathise with a proto-fascist in Bob Roberts.

The material here has a semi-autobiographical tone. Robbins, who co-founded the critically acclaimed Actor's Gang theatre company, has a special understanding of "stage" actors and the world they inhabit. His work with the Actor's Gang has won him much acclaim, especially his celebrated production of Ubu Roi.

Says Robbins of the scale of this film: "It's an epic; it's a big, big movie." The look of 1930s New York is created on the streets of the city itself.

For the first time Robbins has made a complete world, a period piece that he observes in his unique way. Cradle Will Rock includes all his political concerns, as well as his richly informed dark humour.

Robbins has always stretched himself as an actor and as a director. And his experience in theatre has enriched his screen work, both as an actor and a director. After the intimacy of the Oscar-nominated Dead Man Walking, built on personal issues and powerful performances, Robbins has taken on the challenge of a big story, a story of a world in flux. Douglas Brodoff