Alex Wheatle
- Episode aired Dec 11, 2020
- TV-MA
- 1h 6m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
2.5K
YOUR RATING
The true story of writer Alex Wheatle and his spell in prison after the Brixton riots.The true story of writer Alex Wheatle and his spell in prison after the Brixton riots.The true story of writer Alex Wheatle and his spell in prison after the Brixton riots.
Fumilayo Brown-Olateju
- Dawn
- (as Fumilayo Brown-Olatej)
Ashley McGuire
- Cook
- (as Ashley Maguire)
Louis J Rhone
- Rankin's Dread
- (as Louis j Rhone)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaOne of Alex Wheatle's own sons worked with the production design team. At one point, he called his father to tell him "Dad, I'm prepping your bedroom for younger Alex. It's fucked up."
- GoofsThe voiceover reading Wheatle's file gives his name as "Alec Alphonso Wheatle." His first name is Alex, not Alec.
- Quotes
Alex Wheatle: [confused about being called African by a couple of Brixtonians] I'm from Surrey.
- ConnectionsReferences Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)
- SoundtracksSatta Massagana
(uncredited)
Written by Bernard Collins, Donald Manning and Lynford Manning
Performed by The Abyssinians
Featured review
Unique, striking addition to the Small Axe anthology
STAR RATING: ***** Saturday Night **** Friday Night *** Friday Morning ** Sunday Night * Monday Morning
After a lifetime growing up and suffering abuse in the care system, Alex Wheatle (Sheyi Cole) moves to Brixton, where he embraces his culture and discovers his true identity, as a reggae singer. However, some negative experiences lead to him taking part in the Brixton riots of 1981, leading him to serve a short prison spell, but thankfully he was able to turn his life around and become an accomplished author, and was even awarded an MBE for services to literature.
Director Steve McQueen's penultimate entry in to his SA anthology takes a tough subject to examine, whose story as a London black youth mirrors that of Birmingham's Benjamin Zephaniah, an artist more closer to home for me. A lifetime of misfortune further hampered by negative treatment from society at the time, McQueen still manages to find a stream of upbeat positivity.
Like the rest of his post Mangrove short n' sweet efforts, McQueen approaches the subject matter with an unconventional style, taking a seemingly straightforward story and infusing it with something that lifts it above, most notably a voiceover delivering a poem while black and white photos of The New Cross fire and subsequent protests play on screen. Going back in time, like the other SA films, it depicts a time of open racism, using modern young actors who've grown up in a time when it's been driven underground, and so sound a little awkward and unconvincing saying it, making it look a bit naff rather than shocking. Thankfully, the same can't be said of the lead star, infusing his performance with a natural charisma that carries it along fine.
Unlike the previous Red, White and Blue, McQueen is thankfully able to round this off with a positive outcome for his lead protagonist, showing how positive change can be in society and the individual. And throws in some nice reggae tunes for balance.****
After a lifetime growing up and suffering abuse in the care system, Alex Wheatle (Sheyi Cole) moves to Brixton, where he embraces his culture and discovers his true identity, as a reggae singer. However, some negative experiences lead to him taking part in the Brixton riots of 1981, leading him to serve a short prison spell, but thankfully he was able to turn his life around and become an accomplished author, and was even awarded an MBE for services to literature.
Director Steve McQueen's penultimate entry in to his SA anthology takes a tough subject to examine, whose story as a London black youth mirrors that of Birmingham's Benjamin Zephaniah, an artist more closer to home for me. A lifetime of misfortune further hampered by negative treatment from society at the time, McQueen still manages to find a stream of upbeat positivity.
Like the rest of his post Mangrove short n' sweet efforts, McQueen approaches the subject matter with an unconventional style, taking a seemingly straightforward story and infusing it with something that lifts it above, most notably a voiceover delivering a poem while black and white photos of The New Cross fire and subsequent protests play on screen. Going back in time, like the other SA films, it depicts a time of open racism, using modern young actors who've grown up in a time when it's been driven underground, and so sound a little awkward and unconvincing saying it, making it look a bit naff rather than shocking. Thankfully, the same can't be said of the lead star, infusing his performance with a natural charisma that carries it along fine.
Unlike the previous Red, White and Blue, McQueen is thankfully able to round this off with a positive outcome for his lead protagonist, showing how positive change can be in society and the individual. And throws in some nice reggae tunes for balance.****
helpful•10
- wellthatswhatithinkanyway
- Mar 22, 2021
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Filming locations
- Canterbury Prison, Canterbury, Kent, England, UK(prison location)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 6 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 2.00 : 1
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