Small Axe

The most unique achievement from a filmmaker in recentimes. Steven Mcqueen has released five films(directed by him) over consecutive weeks last year concerning the struggles of the co-existence of the West-Indian community in London over a certain period of time.

All of the five films deals with a same theme but the treatment is different for every one of them. Each film has a unique story to tell and Mcqueen has done an incredible job in directing them with equal precision and importance.

A tale of police brutality,a tale of biased school system,alienation within own society,a story full of vibrance and life;Small Axe is nothing short of a spectacular achievement.

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.

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.