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Season 1 – Small Axe

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – Small Axe Nov 2020 Drama Other Play Trailer Watchlist
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99% Tomatometer 151 Reviews 85% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
Based on the real-life experiences of London's West Indian community between 1969 and 1982.
Small Axe — Season 1

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Anchored by strong performances and an even stronger sense of conviction, Mangrove is a powerful indictment of institutional racism.

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Critics Reviews

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Adam Nayman The Ringer 01/27/2021
The goal of McQueen's Mangrove is not just to dramatize the trials of the nine Black activists and community leaders arrested and accused of inciting a riot in Notting Hill in 1970, but to excoriate a legal system... Go to Full Review
Jennifer Wilson The New Republic 12/19/2020
[It] intimately portrays Black spaces. Go to Full Review
Jeannette Catsoulis New York Times 12/10/2020
[McQueen] has woven his own memories and family stories into a vibrant tapestry of immigrant dignity and determination. Go to Full Review
Geoffrey Macnab iNews.co.uk 01/16/2025
4/5
Where Mangrove excels is in making trenchant points about racism and injustice while remaining a lively and enjoyable ensemble drama. Go to Full Review
Calum Cooper In Their Own League 07/14/2024
5/5
In refusing to sugarcoat his themes, harkening back to the same emotional sucker punches “12 Years a Slave” threw, McQueen has made an intense biopic that simultaneously sparks fury and hope. Go to Full Review
Rory Doherty InSession Film 06/13/2024
Based on the trial that had the first judicial acknowledgment of racial prejudice in the Metropolitan Police, McQueen’s keen ability for capturing blistering emotions is on fine display here. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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david f @dfulmer 12/17/2021 It started out a kind of earnest, self-consciously important film, but I was drawn into the story of racial conflict and the courtroom drama was superbly well-done. See more Ethan T 06/26/2021 Mangrove reads similarly to Bigelow's Detroit in many ways. Both showcase police brutality and racism across a similar time period (1965-1970) in the Western world, and feature courtroom politics. The difference lies in location, characters, and outcome. Mangrove employs enough characterisation and contemporary cultural input to transcend its rather familiar storyline in favour of transmitting an immensely engrossing viewing experience. Every main performance is superb, from Parkes to Wright. The white characters are primarily racist caricatures (although likely accurate to the social landscape of the time), played well enough to be dislikable. The departures from this mould enhance the impact of the resolution, though. The editing and camera work was noticeably brilliant. Some of the transitions brought an air of gusto and artistry without ever bridging the gap to pretentiousness. With a story worth telling, McQueen again cements his status as one of the most talented directors working today. See more 06/22/2021 Small axe empezó fuerte y mucho See more 04/27/2021 Part of 5 movies in the series called Small Axe directed by Steve McQueen. The movie was about the Mangrove Nine trial in London, 9 African-Caribbean who were accused of inciting violence in a protest against police harassment to the community. The Trial of Chicago 7, which was also about a trial, was dynamic and fast-paced. Mangrove, on the other hand, was slower, but spent more time on the characters' speeches and dialogues. The plot was straightforward, so the quality depended entirely on the actors' performances. And I was thoroughly amazed and enjoyed the passionate acting from everyone in the movie. Also notable was the camera work. There were a couple of scenes where after the event ended, the screen lingered on an object or people for a long time to prolong the effect of the events. As for problems, the character Frank Crichlow was supposed to be the main focus. However, the other characters were those that had the moments in the movie, and Frank didn't really get his big moment as a main character. Overall, despite the plot being nothing new, the passionate performance from the solid cast reemphasized the harsh and unjust treatment from the broken system against the black communities. 8.5/10 See more michael d 03/24/2021 Awesome performances and an excellent historical account. See more 03/11/2021 Although repetitive in it's long speeches it offers a fresh look at an old subject. See more Read all reviews
Small Axe — Season 1

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Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Nov 20, 2020 Details
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Season Info

Director
Steve McQueen
Executive Producer
Steve McQueen, Rose Garnett, Tracey Scoffield, David Tanner
Screenwriter
Steve McQueen
Network
MULTI
Genre
Drama, Other
Original Language
British English
Release Date
Nov 20, 2020