Film Reviews & Movie Analysis

If you have indeed been living under a rock – or more likely having a social media break – you would have missed all the buzz that heightened over the last two weeks over director, Steve McQueen’s Small Axe. Essentially it is an anthology consisting of five television movies that highlight London’s West Indian culture and community since the 1960s. This journey began with Mangrove.

Written by Steve McQueen and Alastair Siddons
Directed by Steve McQueen

Broadcast: BBC One, 15th November 2020
Synopsis: When a west Indian Restaurant opens up in Notting Hill in 1968, it is unfairly targeted by the police.
Cast: Letitia Wright, Shaun Parkes, Malachi Kirby, Sam Spruell, Rochenda Sandall

When Frank Crichlow (Shaun Parkes) opens up Caribbean Restaurant, Mangrove, in Notting Hill, it becomes a pillar for the community of West Indians who view it as a piece of home.

Unfortunately the police, specifically led by PC Pulley (Sam Spruell) see it as a symbol of Black people not knowing their place. Pulley rains down raid upon raid putting Frank’s business at risk.

A peaceful protest, Hands Off Mangrove, is arranged to combat the clear discrimination Frank is facing but wounds in nine protestors including himself, and activists Altheia Jones-LeCointe (Letita Wright) and Darcus Howe (Malachi Kirby) being arrested, and on trial for conspiracy to incite a riot.

What is there to say about Mangrove? It was an enjoyable historical drama movie, and I was glad that, although it featured discrimination and racism – it wasn’t as upsetting and enraging for me as other shows and films have been/are. This meant I could focus on the story instead of being blinded by the hatred. So that’s always nice.

As said, this was a historical drama, the Mangrove Nine (as they are dubbed), existed, and hearing their story, one that took place in London and in a time that still feels so recent was incredibly impactful. These characters, these people who lived the experience made history by protesting institutional racism in the Metropolitan police, and went a step further by having this formally acknowledged by the courts.

And this was only fifty years ago.

Whether or not this was the movies intent, or it’s just an accurate reflection of how things were, the audience felt an unified disturbance with the treatment of Frank Crichlow and his restaurant Mangrove. It enforced existing notions of the unfair treatment of Black people at the mercy of those in power, and typically white.

As most people have reflected online, Mangrove is an important piece of British History that has otherwise gone unknown by many. Even those who live round the corner from where Mangrove was and its resurface couldn’t have come at a more poignant time.

Back to the piece of drama itself – it was incredibly well written, lyrical and moving with stand out performances from the majority of the cast members. It managed to shine a light on the happier moments of living while Black in London in the 1960’s, the suffering that was simply unavoidable, and most importantly, the hopeful ones which is something that is still carried through today.

Trailer Below….

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Content is scarce these days so even though I would typically do my British TV reviews as one post – as Small Axe is an anthology I see no harm in doing a piece on all five films.

Next up: Lovers Rock premiering on BBC One Sunday 22nd November 2020.