Small Axe

I've always wanted to learn about the history of black people in the U. K. and particularly in London.

But boy, was I in for a surprise.

The directorship, cinematography, scripts, otherworldly classes of supreme art. So much depth, and intimacy, direct confrontation, painfully felt antagonistic views, pockets of genuine gentleness amidst grasping chaos . . . What a series.

Incredible. Loved every second of it, will be rewatching soon.

Being white, this feels a bit weird for me to be critiquing. I've mentioned this before, in my review of Da 5 Bloods like a million years ago, but then I remembered that I'm British and so it's magically okay.

But for real, it is interesting seeing my own country being targeted, a) because it's almost always America taking most of the criticism on that front, when my country is almost as bad, and b) because I don't like my country and would happily pay to see most current government officials kicked out of Parliament. And I mean literally kicked. Preferably in the balls.

Anyway, it's a series by Steve McQueen. Awesome, except for the fact that the only one of his films I've seen is Widows, and that's probably his worst, so I wasn't really sure what to expect. What you should expect is five episodes about the black experience, specifically in England during the 60s-80s and mostly based on true stories.

You can go read my reviews of each individual episode if you want specifics, but Mangrove is about the trial of the Mangrove Nine, the first trial to prove and use police discrimination as evidence, and is basically a better version of The Trial Of The Chicago 7 and my personal favourite of the series, Lovers Rock I found really boring and would have been significantly improved by cutting maybe an entire half of it out, Red, White And Blue is a great character study even if it ends pretty abruptly, Alex Wheatle is fine, but it feels a little flat and pointless compared to the rest of the series, and Education is a nice hopeful little offering about the next generation to leave off on.

It's weird how I think the first two could have been improved by cutting some stuff out, and the last three could have been improved by adding quite a bit more, but in broad strokes, this series has amazing performances throughout, absolutely brilliant directing and cinematography, interesting characters, and tells some stories that feel like they need to be told right now.

I'd argue if there's one single problem every episode of this shares to some degree, it's the pacing, and whether or not stuff should have been cut out or added in, but if you have been even the slightest bit affected by the racial justice movements of this last year, then you owe it to yourself to watch this.

And if you'd consider yourself as having not been affected by them at all, then you can probably leave. Just in general.

This series of films are revealing regarding the history within Britain of a particular community, namely the West Indian one in the 60s and 70s. The concentration on detail is totally absorbing, bringing known aspects to life as well as less well known details that make this history real rather than simply a vague awareness of the hardships and discrimination that were suffered.

As well as the hardships, the films bring out the vibrancy and uniqueness of that community so also has a positive message, as well as an educational one.

I thought Mangrove was particularly powerful, both being depressing and uplifting at the same time! Also, the final one, based on education, was incredibly raw and insightful with brilliant acting. The others were also part of a masterful sketch, highlighting aspects of life and attitudes, warts and all, within that community at that time.

I was bowled over and feel I am now more in touch with important recent history in our country. Not only that, but more informed regarding the background of the current community.

Thoroughly recommended.

When I got to the ending of "Education" I wanted to give a hug to this collection of films... Feels like everything McQueen had done before (Oscars and all) was for the greater purpose of making these films as good as they turned out. Bravo!

Steve McQueen's most famous work is perhaps 'Twelve Years a Slave', which I found a rather ordinary maintstream movie distinguished only by itsubject matter. His other films, however, are generally outstanding, and with 'Small Axe', he has crafted a heatfelt, emotional and compelling series of stories about the black experience in Britain. He's good at the set piece scences such as court cases, but above all else, he's brilliant at conveying the psychology of lives lived in an environment of systematic racism. As a white Briton, I might wish that these stories weren't true, or that they could be wholly consigned to the past; but it's important that they're told, and they provide some perspective on the 'Black Lives Matter' movement and why it animated so many in the UK even though we don't have the same level of police killings as there are in the US. But even judged as pure drama, this is excellent stuff.