Small Axe (TV Mini Series) Mangrove (2020) User Reviews

Insight into institutional racism

[khamilton-11 · 9/10 · 23 November 2020]

Steve McQueen has provided an insight into the institutional racism that was commonly faced by the West Indian community in London in the 1970's which sadly continued and, to an extent, continues far beyond the events portrayed. The Mangrove paints a picture of a community under siege, invited to the UK to fill employment needs after the war, but later resented for their mere presence and desire to create a sense of community.

A film of two parts, the early character development underscores the great diversity of the West Indian community, presenting the common dilemma to stay and to build a future or to leave and accept defeat. Growing up in the UK in the 1970's it's not hard to remember how much that casual racism was the norm, whether in the playground or in the streets. McQueen captures the normality of that and how it facilitated those in authority to act in a way that would now, in general, be seen as wholly unacceptable.

The film will draw obvious comparisons with the recent Chicago 7 film, but for me, this was a far more robust production with better character development and acting and less emphasis on dress up and wigs than Aaron Sorkin's effort. It certainly had a far greater sense of realism, place and time. Comparing the filmed version to the actual events, McQueen has been true to events and to the people involved - something which makes the continued harassment of the people involved for years after the events portrayed even more chilling!

Watched a NYFF 58

[Liam_Trump · 8/10 · 26 September 2020]

Steve McQueen's new anthology series, Small Axe starts off strong with the first entry, Mangrove. In the first half of Mangrove, the story focuses mainly on Frank as his restaurant, The Mangrove is bombarded with unprovoked police attacks. This all culminates into a march where several of the activists are brought to appeal their cases in court, where the later half of the film takes place.

Throughout the film, McQueen implemented some great music choices, elevating whatever tone he was trying to achieve. He used this to great effect, scenes turning on a dime; going from fun and free flowing to dark and chaotic all through the use, or lack thereof, of music alongside with the expert staging that many scenes had. Shabier Kirchner's cinematography worked very well in conjunction with the staging, creating a naturalistic feel for the majority of the film as many scenes were done in one take. The performances in Mangrove complemented these one take scenes with Letitia Wright, Shaun Parkes, and Jodhi May all showing a very wide range of emotions.

Still though, this isn't a perfect film. The second half, which focuses mainly on a trial, felt slightly unoriginal just because this sequence of events has been done in countless films. The transitions from scene to scene were also very repetitive, most transitions being a hard cut to the next shot. At times this did work, but for the times that it didn't the film felt jarring at these moments.

All in all, though, Steve McQueen's Mangrove is a very well made look into the climate of 1970's England and the racism that many black people faced. This is one of the most important films of the year so, when it gets a wide release, I hope many people go and see it.

8/10

Conventional and transcendent all at once

[cliftonofun · 8/10 · 16 February 2021]

Most historical courtroom dramas have some disadvantages built in - we all know the stories, we all know the formulas. But Mangrove manages to both follow and transcend those familiar formulas. It helps that American audience members like me may not know the case details all that well, of course. But it is the execution that really stands apart. The beats are predictable. The villainous establishment is melodramatic. But McQueen's flare for visual storytelling and brilliant sound editing allow him to find moments (and build tensions) we would have missed otherwise. Plus, the ensemble's powerful performances elevate every single scene. The movie and the stakes just keep building. That's what a great filmmaker can do.

A topical and powerful drama

[eddie_baggins · 8/10 · 20 December 2020]

As part of a BBC initiative that has lead to support stateside through Amazon: Prime, the Small Axe series has allowed Academy Award nominated director Steve McQueen a chance to explore five separate stories of West Indian immigrants to the UK in the 1960's and 70's with the series kicking off with a bang with the first installment titled Mangrove.

Based on the true story of the Mangrove 9, a group of black citizens in London who were unfairly charged with serious offenses relating to riot and affray when a protest they were a part of descended into chaos due to police interference, McQueen's first effort under the Small Axe banner is a powerful and humanistic tale that is relevant in today's climate and features some awards caliber performances from its leads Shaun Parkers and Letitia Wright.

Never once feeling like a made for TV production, McQueen embeds Mangrove with the same power and poignancy that he made his name with in films such as Shame and 12 Years a Slave and without ever beating his viewers over the head with heavy handed delivery, his film paints and insightful picture of a time and place in Britain's history that is filled with humanistic moments that both shatter your spirit in humankind and uplift it as the films central figures wade through an horrific ordeal to clear their names.

A long-term player in the industry both at home and abroad, Mangrove gives Shaun Parkes the role of his career as immigrant and new restaurant owner Frank Crichlow, a man whom local police have targeted unfairly throughout his desire to operate and run a legitimate business and Parkes excels throughout the film with a combination of intense final scenes in the film some of the best acting you're likely to witness this year, on a screen both big or small.

As well as McQueen's typically in tune direction accompanying Parkes fine central turn, Marvel star Letitia Wright proves she has what it takes to be a key player in Hollywood for years yet to come with her passionate turn as Black Panther member and outspoken black advocate Altheia Jones proving to all that there's more to the young performer than Shuri.

With such fine performances and careful and considered direction, this longest edition to the Small Axe series is potentially its finest and one of the years most powerful and relevant tales.

Final Say -

An important piece of storytelling for the time and place we find ourselves in at the moment, Mangrove is a fiery beginning for the Small Axe anthology and further proof that McQueen is one of the great directional talents working today.

4 street parties out of 5

Small Axe: MANGROVE (2020)

[taranpannu01 · 10/10 · 19 December 2020]

Steve McQueen is like no other. His eye and camera are one. He is a master of storytelling. The first in the Small Axe anthology series is a visceral, poignant and important piece of history.

The story of the Mangrove Nine is profound, McQueen and his co writer Siddons expertly blend an exciting trial narrative, with the arc of one man, Frank Crichlow who is portrayed with such conviction by Shaun Parkes. Parkes plays it so well, that during the climax, McQueen and his first time DP collaborator Shabier Kirchner know to just leave the camera on his face, and let him do all the work, and my god does he work. You feel every inch of doubt, passion, anger and relief in Shaun Parkes' eyes but he is not alone.

Letitia Wright, Malachi Kirby and Rochenda Sandall all deliver with intense and fiery performances. Wright especially proves herself after being arguably sidelined in major budget films, here she proves herself a talented performer and one not to be dismissed. Nathaniel Martello - White and Richie Campbell provide brilliant support as other members of the Mangrove Nine.

In honesty, every cast member shines, the brutally villainous Sam Spruell, the relief of Gary Beadle & Llewella Gideon, Jack Lowden and Alex Jennings also (as usual) suitably deliver in the later stages of the film.

Steve McQueen captures the energy and passion of every scene, from the heart pumping protest to the powerful climax when the results of the trial are revealed. Through cinematography, the music, the lack of editing, the trust in his performers and above all his masterful direction, Steve McQueen has opened his Small Axe series with a rattling experience and one that will not easily escape the minds of those who have bore witness to such a master storyteller at the top of his game.

Piss-boilingly true courtroom period piece

[svendaly · 8/10 · 7 January 2021]

Some great performances, Kirby as Darcus Howe particularly bringing to the life such a well-known figure. It's a TV movie so relatively light on production values, and some of the police characters were grotesquely cartoonish, but certainly a gripping two hours

Powerful, character-driven true-life drama

[dr_clarke_2 · 10/10 · 8 May 2022]

After his fourth feature film was released in 2018, award-winning director Steve McQueen ventured into a slightly different medium for his next project, Small Axe. An anthology of five television films made for the BBC, it explores the experience of Black people living in London in the nineteen-sixties to the nineteen-eighties. The first of these is 'Mangrove', a true life tale of institutionalised racism based on based on the trial of the Mangrove Nine in 1971.

'Mnagrove' follows Trinidadian immigrant Frank Critchlow (the owner of the eponymous Mangrove restaurant) and his friends after they are arrested following a protest against police racism, through the subsequent trial, in which the accused elected to defend themselves. McQueen co-wrote the script with Alastair Siddons, and for all the passion it conveys it is also intelligently analytical. The characterisation is nuanced. Critchlow is a reluctant "leader of his people" who tries to use the system to fend off racism: Darcus Howe (a lifelong campaigner who became a familiar face on British television for many years) dismisses the system as the "White establishment" and argues for demonstrations. A particularly good example is that of Alex Jennings' Judge Edward Clarke, who despite Scottish barrister Ian Macdonald's description of him as an old-fashioned bully is ultimately seen to be fair. Macdonald, who championed anti-racist legal practice throughout his career, and whose sense of justice is matched by his sense of mischief, is also well-written.

The script takes a factual approach that lets the racism largely speak for itself: the brutality of the (literally) unwarranted police raid on the Mangrove is starkly realised, whilst scenes of the police discussing nicking "Black *******" as a game are quietly outrageous. The actual trial makes for a fascinating insight into a real-life case that too few people had heard of prior to 'Mangrove' being broadcast, not to mention the events that led up to it. The casting helps: Shaun Parkes gives an exceptionally passionate performance as Frank Critchlow and gives a masterful lesson in facial acting when the jury reaches its verdict. Malachi Kirby plays Darcus Howe, whilst Letitia Wright plays Altheia Jones-LeCointe, both equally naturalistically. Sam Spruell is convincingly unpleasant as racist Police Constable Frank Pulley and his performance during the trial scenes also demonstrate just how plausible such men can be when lying in court.

Whilst 'Mangrove' (and indeed Small Axe as a whole) was made for television, it is in every other sense a McQueen film. It looks great, with the London location filming carefully selected to look authentic to the period and lots of accurate detail in the sets and costumes. It's brilliantly shot by cinematographer Shabier Kirchner. The use of close ups during the Notting Hill protest (which rapidly descends into a pitched battle when the police react violently) draws the audience into the chaos. Later, in the court scenes, they capture the emotions of the characters. Aerial and high-angle shots are used to great effect. McQueen uses a double-exposed montage to show the jury deliberating. The soundtrack consists in large part of music by Black artists that is appropriate to the era. Mica Levi provides the original music.

Small Axe is the sort of well-made, hard-hitting but understated television drama that is now all too rare; whilst stylistically different to both, it is reminiscent of the television work (mainly for the BBC) of Mike Leigh and Ken Loach, in that it attempts - successfully - to address social issues through well-crafted, character-driven drama. 'Mangrove' may well be the best of it and deserves to be widely seen.

Phenomenal and passionate performances

[Movi3DO · 9/10 · 27 April 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.

Fight The Power

[chrispule · 8/10 · 19 January 2021]

Closing Time!

Deeper meaning to the word Mangrove on How the plant it is specialised in to survive in the most Extreme conditions. The is the backbone to the True Story of Caribbean community in the UK via 1960s.

This sad but also uplifting tale of immigrants in Notting Hill in 1968. No matter what colonialist country we refer to being USA UK South Africa Australia etc the story is Universal and ever Relevant in 2020. No spoilers

Marcus Kirby & Letetia Wright deliver there best work to date. Greatly directed piece by Steve McQueen who was able to deliver us a very real Setting.

Strong initial entry in the Small Axe anthology

[gortx · 23 December 2020]

The initial (and longest) of Director Steve McQueen's Small Axe anthology is set in the Notting Hill section of London in the late 60s/early 70s. Based on a true story of a clash between police and the Caribbean community and centered around a local restaurant, the case became known as the Mangrove Nine. McQueen and co-writer Alastair Siddons do a fine job of creating a feel for the time and place. The characters are fleshed out and given the space to become real persons instead of distant 'historical figures'. The screenplay does occasionally verge on preachiness, but, the acting by Shaun Parkes, Letitia Wright, Malachi Kirby and others keep it far enough away. The policemen are more stereotypical -- including the main villain, PC Pulley (Sam Spruell) -- but they are well acted, as well. The second half is dominated by a trial (there were multiple), and is a bit less interesting, if well enough handled. The problem of trying encapsulate a lot of incidents and twists and turns into a coherent hour or so, lead to some editing and writing issues. MANGROVE is a solid docu-drama and a good lead off to the Small Axe series.

Mangrove

[Prismark10 · 7/10 · 23 November 2020]

Oscar nominated director Steve McQueen is the first black producer to win a best Picture Oscar.

Small Axe are a series of anthology films about the West Indian community in Britain between the 1960s and the 1980s. Each film was directed and co written by McQueen.

Mangrove is a story about the Mangrove Nine. A group of black activists who faced trial in 1970 for inciting a riot. The police action against them was motivated by racism.

The film is set in Notting Hill. Frank Crichlow (Shaun Parkes) has opened a restaurant that also serves as a community room. However he faces continual harassment from the police led by PC Pulley.

The film is in two halves. The first part is how the police treated the black community. There was a game the police played. The first person to pull a spade card had to arrest the first black person they saw.

Crichlow and others were left frustrated by the actions of the police.

At the trial, some of the black activists such as Darcus Howe (Malachi Kirby) represented themselves at trial and they embarrassed the police evidence against them. Others were represented by the civil liberties barrister Ian Macdonald.

McQueen balances the intimidating first part of the film and its casual racism with humour during the trial scenes. Some of the police officers were revealed to be rather dim.

Kirby had the most difficult role as Darcus Howe and he nailed it. Howe was better known since the 1980s as a television presenter so he was the most well known of the Mangrove Nine.

As a footnote I met Ian Macdonald QC at a conference just after the election of David Cameron's Tory government in 2010. I got the impression that he might have been a Tory voter by then. I knew he had some well publicised disputes with the Blair/Brown Labour government over their anti terrorism legislation.

I had asked him about the impact of the Tories immigration policies and Macdonald was rather blase about it saying it was mainly bluster. It eventually led to the Windrush deportation scandal.

Small Axe: Mangrove Review

[theredsky · 8/10 · 26 December 2020]

I haven't watched any Steve McQueen films until now and I had to say that I was blown away. This film was incredibly on a storytelling perspective. McQueen does an excellent job at making the audience feel for his characters and understand the story behind them and the events surrounding the story. Each character, who is a real person by the way, is interesting and this is mostly due to the performances and writing. Letitia Wright's performance is easily one of my favorite of the year and I really hope that she gets recognition for it. Every other performance here is great to. There is not one bad performance in this film. Everyone does an outstanding job and it seems like this film will get that recognition for its performances. The writing is top notch. I can tell from his writing that McQueen is interested in telling this story and the way he writes his dialogue is perfect. His direction is also very well done too. This man knows what he is doing. The story follows 9 African American's put on trial for a protest that was squashed by the police and made to look like a riot. A lot of this film is in court and usually, movies that primarily focus on court cases don't do a lot for me but this was special. I was always engaged in these scenes. We get to see a different side of the police around the world, not just in America and it's infuriating to see how grossly the police were in this scenario. My main issue with the film was that sometimes, the cinematography felt a little stale. Most of my issues are with the beginning of the film in fact. It's just not as interesting as the rest of the film. I'm not saying that the first part was boring but I was way more investing in everything after the beginning of the film. This a great film for anyone to check out if they want a compelling story or another knock out of the park from Steve McQueen.

Way too much shouting!

[thewhelk · 6/10 · 14 January 2021]

It's called the law of diminishing returns and this film in the series suffers massively from it. All the characters do is shout all the time and it gets very boring very quickly. By not knowing when to rein in his actors, McQueen fails to deliver the punch he was looking for. It's a shame as this one had the potential.

The ingredients for a great documentary make for a formulaic drama

[leveverage · 5/10 · 25 January 2021]

I came to Small Axe because it was on the "best TV of the year" list of many British publications, but I knew nothing about it going in. I expected all of the episodes to be fictional, and so was surprised to see that the anthology is actually a mix of fiction and non-fiction.

Mangrove is rather hampered by this. Dol Isaacs obviously suffered harassment from the Met for many years, and so McQueen portrays him in unequivocal terms: as an innocent man pursued by the police, dubbed repeatedly and perhaps significantly by Isaac as "devils".

This is an entirely reasonable thing to do, but as a source for a drama, it precludes the possibility of any shades of grey or three-dimensional characters: this is a story about angels and devils. Issacs' previous relationships with gambling dens, which are the Met's ostensible excuse for persecuting him, are skated over. When, instead of reopening the restaurant, he opts instead to have the Mangrove open 24 hours a day and apparently welcomes gamblers in, the decision is not explained or examined.

What we are left with is an innocent man being unfairly treated by police who have no human characteristics. The actors playing the police officers spend most of the time sneering like comic book villains. Equally unconvincing are the court scenes, in which the Mangrove Nine spend the whole time heckling in a way I found hard to believe. Whenever I watch this kind of drama, I find myself wanting to see a documentary instead, especially because this case involved Darcus Howe, who I always had a soft spot for.

Mangrove looks great and has some excellent performances, especially from Gary Beadle as Isaacs, but it is the most formulaic racial drama you can imagine, with no surprises along the way. I have read that McQueen struggled for years to get it into production, so perhaps when he finally got the chance, he chose to portray British institutional racism in such stark terms as a righting of a historical wrong, but the resulting message is one that you will have seen in dozens of other shows and films.

Episode two can easily stand on its own as a short film

[damian5000 · 10/10 · 7 December 2020]

If you watch nothing else of this series, watch episode two. It can 100% stand alone and would give Dazed & Confused a run for its money as the greatest house party on film, albeit Small Ax is a dance party not a keg party... Which brings us to how the brilliant the cinematography, acting, and score came together to replicate the feelings that come when you dance with someone. It had me reminiscing and remembering feelings from long ago. The lust and intimacy and some unexplainable feelings of all is right with the world that slowly, warmly, lovingly grow between you over the period of several songs. It's intoxicating and one of the best feelings on the planet. What an incredible job the team did replicating it...

Well made period piece really

[jonnathanchavezz · 10/10 · 1 March 2021]

This is just a really well crafted film where all of the aspects of it, technical and non, are presented in a meaningful way that's in service of the story its telling about its subject matter while showing a lot of heart and personality.

Powerful first episode

[pitstopinpurgatory · 10/10 · 30 January 2022]

Powerful film which skillfully enlightens the viewer to the Caribbean culture and community against the small minded racist cops. Loved the strong women characters.

Masterful

[david-meldrum · 10/10 · 24 June 2021]

Throughout this brilliant film I couldn't help but think about Aaron Sorkin's The Trial Of The Chicago Scene - another fact-based courtroom drama about race issues, events I knew little about (taking place, as they did, in that window of a few years around my birth that means I seem to struggle to catch up with facts). Where Sorkin undermined the power of the events with dewey-eyed sentimentality (and trying to tell the story of oppressed people for them), McQueen gives something altogether better and more lasting. This is all in the small gestures, particularly aided by McQueen's trademark of lingering long on an unexpected shot, far longer than we're comfortable with. The viewer becomes implicated, questioned. The performances are all first-rate and the music evocative, as McQueen effortlessly shifts tone between vibrant celebration and frightening cruelty. A film for the ages - and a remarkable way to start this anthology.

Stunning and heart-breaking stuff

[simoncoram-06766 · 10/10 · 23 January 2023]

Being born in 1965 and being none too bright, I had no idea about this story, this court case, etc., and it's really hit me hard. There's been films and TV series on TV about racism in the US, but the Mangrove story being so English and so recent is mind-blowing.

How anyone can think a person is different (less) just because of their skin colour simply beggars belief.

Was police officer intelligence at such an abysmally low level that they went along with this idea, supported it and wholeheartedly agreed with it back then? These disgraces didn't deserve to be called officers of the law. Shameful. 😓

Having said all the above, I did think that this and the other Small Axe programs were far too long, and would've benefited greatly by a little judicious editing.

The best of McQueen's series

[Jeremy_Urquhart · 8/10 · 9 October 2021]

Definitely the best of the three Small Axe instalments I've seen so far (watching them all out of order- sorry 😓).

I think this one in particular is so well written and acted that had it been released theatrically, it would have been a shoo-in for at least a best screenplay nomination and at least one acting nomination, maybe more (Letitia Wright and Shaun Parkes were particularly fantastic. The former I've seen of course in the MCU, but this is a huge step up- she should have a big career ahead of her).

While it takes a little while to get going with a slow by steady first act that sets everything up, the final two thirds really deliver. Perhaps it could have been edited down a tiny bit more, but even then, there are admittedly some sequences (and even individual shots) that are memorable because of how long they go on for, so maybe not- maybe I'm just nitpicking.

The courtroom scenes feel authentic, and there's real suspense towards the end if you don't know how the real life case was concluded. I appreciated how little theatricality and Hollywood cliches there were in these courtroom scenes, yet whilst they felt very real and authentic, they were never boring or unengaging.

Thematically it's sharp and to the point. It conveys its message exceptionally well, and never feels preachy or manipulative in any way.

McQueen's made something really impressive with this Small Axe series. To put out essentially five features in a short amount of time and have them all be quality (can personally vouch for 3/5 atm at least) is astounding.

The Trial of the Mangrove Nine

[Cineanalyst · 7/10 · 15 January 2021]

I'm not a big fan of these sort of courtroom dramas with blatant social and historical commentary, but at least "Mangrove" demonstrates how hackneyed another trumped-up show trial of protesters, Aaron Sorkin's "The Trial of the Chicago 7" (2020) is by comparison. Steve McQueen's first entry in his "Small Axe" anthology is contemplative, well-photographed and not once did I have the sense of "The West Wing" déjà vu. The acting is better, too, if only because they're required to do less grand speechifying outside of court. Letitia Wright's Black Panther (yeah, I know) tearing up while arguing against Shaun Parkes's owner of the Mangrove restaurant taking a plea bargain is about the only such case here that seemed overly contrived to me. Hard for an actor to do such a scene without me hearing, "give me an award."

If interpreted as a historical parallel of the 2020 demonstrations after the killing of George Floyd, "Mangrove" also works better since it involves the struggle against racial inequality instead of the Vietnam War, as well as police brutality. That it takes place in Notting Hill, London, and recalls England's colonial history highlights the international scope of racism and injustice, too. Besides, it's good to see a story that isn't told as often as American ones--including of the Chicago trial, which had been covered elsewhere, including in another drama, "The Chicago 8" (2011), the extra number being for the African-American defendant that Sorkin didn't count. According to the Guyanese-British Wright, even the U.K. Black History Month is preoccupied with American history. Even McQueen is best known for the American-set, Best Picture "12 Years a Slave" (2013).

To my mind, this is an improvement upon the writer-director-producer's prior "Widows," which although stylish, crammed its social realism and message into a heist picture adapted from TV. "Mangrove," on the other hand, with the Trinidadian restaurant, the protest and trial is already about community and making a point--making a case. It's expected--supposed to be--didactic. Plus, I like that they make fun of the goofy court dress and wigs of barristers and judges, and that the case turns on the literalizing, double meaning of the limited perspective of the police. "Mangrove" is a solid opening salvo in McQueen's "Small Axe" anthology of five movies about West Indian immigrants and their descendants in London circus 1960s to early 1980s.

Anger incarnate

[TheCorniestLemur · 8/10 · 26 May 2021]

I...accidentally watched this on the anniversary of George Floyd's death. Didn't even realise until a few hours after I finished it, but I would like to just take a quick moment to say rest in power, George.

It's hard not to compare this to The Trial Of The Chicago 7, but it would be a whole lot harder to argue that Steve McQueen isn't a far superior director to Aaron Sorkin. There's so many shots in this that'll be burned into your mind long after it finishes - in particular for me, is a simple shot of a strainer on the floor. That's it, but it's the way he knows exactly when something is best left implied, and when something needs to be shown in full that does it for me.

He also knows exactly when to cut a scene, when to linger on a shot, when to let silence do the talking, and basically how to be a nearly flawless director. To both the actors and the cinematographer. Bloody hell the performances in this are amazing.

I've not felt so sympathetic to a protagonist, nor have I hated the guts of a character as much as that slimy prick Pulley in a while, and for as much as it is the great writing doing this, I can't praise any actor in this enough for what they did here.

Admittedly, the story does not feel all that original, but I'm usually willing to let that slide a bit more than I otherwise would for films based on true stories. What I'm less willing to let slide is that sometimes, the dialogue can be unbearably cheesy, and it could have done with some scene trimming, if not outright removal in its first half.

Other than that, great start to this, and I'm really looking forward to the rest.

Mangrove

[jboothmillard · 7/10 · 12 December 2021]

Small Axe was an anthology of made-for-TV films from the BBC, suitably broadcast during the Black Lives Matter movement, created and directed by Steve McQueen (Hunger, Shame, 12 Years a Slave, Widows) - Mangrove was the first film of the series. Based on the true story, set in the late 1960s, Frank Crichlow (BAFTA nominated Shaun Parkes) is a Trinidadian immigrant opening a new restaurant, the Mangrove, in Notting Hill. The neighbourhood was then populated with Caribbean immigrants. On the restaurant's opening night, Constable Frank Pulley (Sam Spruell) has highly racist views of black people and looks on making offensive comments to a fellow officer. After the restaurant closes for the night Pulley aggressively confronts Crichlow and accuses him of running an establishment frequented by drug dealers, gamblers, and prostitutes. In a reign of racist terror, Pulley and the local police violently raid Mangrove time after time, causing Crichlow financial distress. In response, Crichlow and the local community take to the streets in peaceful protest in 1970. The police surround the protestors and provoke violence. Several protesters are immediately arrested for minor charges including Frank Crichlow, British-born activist Barbara Beese (Rochenda Sandall), Trinidadian Black Panther leader Altheia Jones-LeCointe (Letitia Wright), Trinidadian activist Darcus Howe (BAFTA winning Malachi Kirby), Rhodan Gordon (Nathaniel Martello-White), Anthony Carlisle Innis (Darren Braithwaite), Rothwell Kentish (Richie Campbell), Rupert Boyce (Kane L. Pearson), and Godfrey Millett (Jumayn Hunter). A year later, the protestors, who became known as the Mangrove Nine, are charged with the serious crimes of riot and affray. At the trial, the Mangrove Nine make race an issue, asking for an all-black jury to make the final verdict fair and just. The presiding judge, Judge Edward Clarke (Alex Jennings), declines the request and refuses to give justification. The defendants use their right to challenge white jury members several times, and the prosecutors challenge black jury members. As witnesses give their testimony, Judge Clarke plainly gives preferential treatment to the prosecution. Jones-LeCointe and Howe, representing themselves, point out fabrications in Pulley's testimony and flaws in the medical examiner's testimony. This includes the size of a hole officers were looking through in the observation van, and the injuries sustained during the riot with statements taken hours after the incidents. Pulley attempts to feed answers to policeman Royce while he is on the stand, resulting in Pulley's expulsion from the courtroom until his fellow policemen have given their testimony. Barbara Beese then interrupts a witness policeman's gleaming introduction by chanting "the officer has nothing to do with the case" and is soon joined by the other defendants and observers. Judge Clarke reprimands the defendants and observers for disrupting the proceedings and launches an adjournment so emotions can settle. Crichlow and Howe are roughly dragged out of the court box by court officers and thrown into solitary basement cells for disruption. Upon pushback from defending counsels Ian Macdonald (Jack Lowden) and Mr. Croft (Richard Cordery), Judge Clarke replaces all court officers. Crichlow is advised by his counsel, Mr. Croft, to plead guilty and abandon his fellow defendants to their own sentences. Crichlow pleads innocent after Jones-LeCointe objects and reveals she is pregnant. The jury acquits Crichlow, Howe, and three other defendants. The judge, commenting that there was evidence of racism on both sides, gives lenient sentences to the four who were convicted. Also starring Samuel West (son of Timothy West and Prunella Scales) as Mr Hill, Thomas Coombes as PC Royce, Derek Griffiths as CLR James, EastEnders' Gary Beadle as Dol Isaacs, Ben Caplan as Mr Stedman, and James Hillier as Chief Inspector. The performances are all terrific, the story is engaging, the period detail is well done, and it really puts across how far Britain has come and how much needs to change with attitudes to race and equality, the courtroom scenes are the highlights, a most watchable historical drama. Small Axe was nominated the BAFTA for Mini-Series, it was nominated the Golden Globe for Best Television Limited Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for Television, and Mangrove was nominated the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie. Very good!

Get the facts right!

[nicholls_les · 5/10 · 24 November 2020]

There are some good elements to this drama. It is good in that it highlights racism in the Police that I am sure many are unaware exists or refuse to accept. Sadly little has changed, it's just the Police are more careful not to get caught, but they still treat many black people as if they are all criminals, this is seen in the unbalanced number of black drivers being stopped, especially if they are in nice cars. The characters are well acted in the main, but some of the court scenes are ridiculous and over dramatized. No court would allow chanting by either defendants or anyone else. I don't understand why anything about this story needed to be changed, it is an important historical event and did not need adding to.

Gripping Film

[agmoldham · 7/10 · 13 December 2020]

I've never really reviewed many tv productions in the past, but the Small Axe series are worthy of a movie release. The episodes are directed by Steve McQueen and they focus on the West Indian community in the late 20th century.

The first episode is Mangrove and tells the story of the Mangrove nine who were taken to court for allegedly attacking the police in 1970. Most of the story revolves around the court case and demonstrates the racial tensions that existed at the time. Having worked in the police force not too long after this was filmed I can certainly confirm that racism was endemic at the time.

Shaun Parkes plays Frank Critchlow who owns the Mangrove which serves West Indian cuisine. This is a place where locals gather and the police raid on a regular basis. Frank is an easy going character who just wants to be left alone to run his business. Letitia Wright play Altheia Jones who is an activist and fighting for equal rights. The other main character is Darcus Howe (Malachi Kirby) who along with Altheia defend themselves during the trial. The acting and direction are outstanding. You also feel like you are back in 1970 so much so that I wondered whether it was made in 1970 when I started watching.

If you like a good courtroom drama then you'll enjoy Mangrove. I was very entertained and the 135 mins running time fairly flew by which is always a sign that you've enjoyed the movie.