Small Axe

Small Axe gives a long overdue glimpse into the Black West Indian experience and civil rights transformation in the UK. The overt injustice and micro aggressions faced by black immigrants and their first generation children are very relevant to the racial dynamics that persist today. I felt proud to hear and see our stories portrayed and hope more story tellers continue to make films like these. To know where we are going we must know where we come from. Small Axe should be shown in schools and discussed.

"Small Axe" is an emotional roller coaster that brings the audience to difficult times, when racism was frightening and black people did not have any rights, limited in their ghettos. All this with the consensus of the authorities that committed abuses of power. A time of social frictions and protests from the Jamaican immigrants in UK that were just requesting equality. Steve McQueen told stories of cultural clashes, rage and disappointments, but also of serenity within the black community, of personal growth and acceptance.

Most of the episodes are beautiful, the different plots are well written, the acting is absolutely on point. My favorites were "Mangrove" and "Red, White and Blue". The first episode deserves a standing ovation. In its two hours, it explains in a detailed way the story of the Nine of Mangrove that led the protest of Notting Hill in the 70's. This was a response to the random unauthorized and unlawful frequent police searches in a local restaurant. I think that the director reported the facts without really taking any side, which is commendable. The third movie tells about a young man named Leroy Logan that truly wants to change the crooked police system from the inside out, by becoming a constable. It is a different kind of protest, maybe more thought out, but also way more difficult to handle because it requires more time and patience. This episode really made me uneasy because everything is seen from the perspective of Logan, who has to deal with tons of unethical and shameful situations in a professional environment. You can understand his frustration, and you root for him, hoping to get one day his personal victory. "Alex Wheatle" and "Education" are pieces of fine cinema, but did not really impress me. The quality is there, but the story did not really get me that much. "Lovers Rock" is an experiment: the plot is minimal, almost non-existent. There are fewer characters compared to the other episodes. Creators played a lot with music, strange sounds and peculiar shots, but to me it was very boring and pointless. As this is an anthology, I would simply skip this one and focus on the remaining four.

Steve McQueen delights us with his close-ups and amazing photography, reminding us that this is first of all a show about normal and real people that suffered and made tons of sacrifices, in order to fight until the end for what they considered right. The cast was very professional: I loved the Jamaican accent which in my perspective was well made by all the actors. Overall, this Steve McQueen project for me was mostly a success, that encountered a few minor issues along the way, but definitely worth my time.

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.

Steve McQueen's passion project had been oscillating listlessly in development for nearly a decade before it all finally came together. Five standalone films of varying lengths, collated together into what may or may not be a mini-series depending on your definition of these things. McQueen is not unsung by any means but these stories most certainly are - as a British person our history lessons at school start with castles, end with World War 2 and are extremely light on detail.

Both Mangrove & Red, White and Blue are just functional - quite linear and without adequate framing in the case of the latter but are alive with exceptional performances. In fact, every one of these is flawlessly cast and bristle with energy and character. My favourite by quite some way is "Lovers Rock" a near real-time slice of life at a party that is so evocative and so absorbing I was completely swept away by it. In these viral times it managed to distill the essence and manic energy of a wild house party and made me feel deep longing for that catharsis of it all. Both Wheatle and Education benefit from their shorter run times and are both deeply charismatic and touching. Throughout there is a real attention paid to costume, music, setting and it's done in such a magnificently textured and organic way you do feel like you're looking into the past.

It's been said that as of this year there is a new re-assessment of what is taught and in the surprisingly light closer "Education" I think there's somewhat of a meta recognition of this as well as through Robbie Gee's magnetic Simeon in Alex Wheatle. The past is the key to understanding the present, and a vital weapon in the arsenal of fighting for a better future. Small Axe has hopefully been seen by many and opened eyes. Britain really is this messy patchwork of mistakes and hardships, of awkward compromises and terrible injustices. However these impassioned creators coalesced here too, so there's some heart and hope in the wheezing lion yet.

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!