Lovers Rock

Small Axe S1/2 Lovers Rock. Once in a while something really special comes along. The writing, direction, acting, production design, casting, music, cinematography, editing make this a masterpiece. Not a word I use lightly. Turn up the bass.

This is an amazing portrayal of a night out. Don't expect to understand everything, you don't need to. Don't expect everything to be accurate to your experience, it won't be. Just relax and enjoy all the dancing, short but intense experiences and joy of a night out in your teens. This encapsulates an amazing night out and a community having a great time, most of us can recognise these feelings. If not, now you kinda can.

I think there are a couple of 'rules' for watching this film, to get the most out of it.

Firstly, if you came to it after watching Mangrove then abandon all expectations of a similar film, it is completely and utterly different. Not in a good or bad way, just do not expect anything remotely similar.

Secondly, be in a situation to allow yourself to become absorbed in the film. If you can watch alone, in low lighting, perhaps with a drink or two, and can leave your phone alone for just over an hour ( I know, crazy!) then you will be able to give your whole attention to the film and I think that is the way you will get sucked in and, very possibly, be absolutely blown away.

Lovers Rock is not about script, dialogue, action, character development. It takes a certain place in time, a certain moment in time, and inserts itself right into them and is about just experiencing it as if you were there yourself. It's all about the vibe, not the story. The music is fantastic.

This type of film is most certainly not for everyone, but watch it with your full attention and it might just be the best film you've seen for a long time.

Oh, and anyone who loved it should check out Climax by Gaspar Noe .... also brilliant and similar in lots of ways.

It's a hangout episode. Like the third act of Dazed and Confused expanded to an hour. There's no much to it. People expect black stories to have a message, which is why it's important we also get stories like this of people just having fun. I'm laughing at people saying it's not accurate, as if house parties, black house parties in particular, are a monolithic experience

Rewatch:: Seeing people come together in celebration and dance is honestly porn to me in 2020. When they played Kunta Kinte Dub for no less than the third time in a row I literally jumped up off my bed and started dancing in my room. Absolutely infectious.