With his ‘Small Axe’ series of films on Amazon Prime, Steven McQueen proves how formidable he is as a filmmaker.
In the new film series “Small Axe” from Academy Award-winning director Steven McQueen, a corner of history is shown that deserves plenty of attention. McQueen presents a cultural tale of Caribbean immigrants to London in the 50s through the 80s. With McQueen’s authentic storytelling and great style combined with some amazing actors. At the 58th New York Film Festival, McQueen debuted three of the five parts in the “Small Axe” series. Below are some quick thoughts on each.
First screened (and second in episode order for ‘Small Axe’) is Lovers Rock, a shorter feature in which McQueen looks at music and romance in this setting. Lovers Rock was the opening film at the festival, and it is a showstopper of a film. Played by Amarah-Jae St. Aubyn, the young woman Martha goes to a party and falls quickly in love with Franklyn (Michael Ward).
Named after a form of reggae music known as “lovers rock,” the movie has a killer soundtrack, including one moment where a song seems to take on a life of its own. The only fictional story in McQueen’s ‘Small Axe’ collection, Lovers Rock is heartwarming and a great break from some of the sad-but-true stories of the series.
Mangrove will be the premiere of ‘Small Axe’ when the series debuts on Amazon Prime, and McQueen tells a long but important story in the film. Mangrove stars Letitia Wright (Black Panther) as a Black Panther activist in an ensemble of Black people who become the center of a groundbreaking trial in London’s history. Known collectively as the Mangrove Nine, a case of police brutality against the Black community of London changes the nation’s history.
It is hard to explain just what makes Mangrove so effective, but the script and performances build to a great expression of love. It is also a perfect introduction to the Black and Caribbean communities in the UK that the story follows.
The final film, Red White and Blue, stars Star Wars’s John Boyega as Leroy Brown, a young Black man who decides to become a police officer. In McQueen’s final film in the “Small Axe” series, he explains why a Black person who has faced brutality would join the force in the first place. It’s harrowing and sad, but Boyega proves that he is an actor to watch.
When the “Small Axe” series debuts in full on Amazon Prime, the world will hopefully realize that Steven McQueen is among the best directors alive. He can do every genre and story and style, all with a voice unique to him. If audiences can take one thing away from “Small Axe” as a whole, it’ll be the care that McQueen has for his characters and storytelling. You’ll clamor for more in this decade-sweeping series of films.
The first episode of “Small Axe” will debut on November 20th, with the following episodes debuting weekly.
