Film Reviews & Movie Analysis

Check out my review for the first instalment of the Small Axe anthology, Mangrove.

Written by Steve McQueen and Courttia Newland
Directed by Steve McQueen

Broadcast: BBC One, 22nd November 2020
Synopsis: Aubyn and Franklin meet during a blues party in the 1980’s, to the sound of lovers rock.
Cast: Micheal Ward, Amarah-Jae St. Aubyn

In regards to a synopsis – there’s not much to say past the one line above. The story takes place predominantly within the walls of the blues party. There are snippets of stories involving other party goers, and Aubyn’s life outside of those walls comes briefly to the surface – but none of that is truly crucial to the movie. Lovers Rock can can only perfectly be described as, an absolute vibe.

Where Lovers Rock lacks in its conventional storytelling, it more than makes up for in its success in captivating the audience. You aren’t a viewer, you are a participant – you are there at they blues party, you’re in the room with Aubyn and Franklin.

Music is at the core of this movie, from the aunties casually singing in the kitchen in the opening, then the crowd vibsing as they coming together singing Janet Kay’s Silly Games a cappella. It all emotes joy, relief, freedom, and community. Heck if your body isn’t screaming for you to get up and dance during the second or third track reload of Kunta Kinte Dub by The Revolutionaries, then you’ve watched Lovers Rock wrong and I suggest you try again.

The majority of the movie is spent in that party, it’s a snippet of life for these characters that we are invited into. We forget the moment before the blues party and we almost hate the morning after where reality sets in and it’s time for the characters to wear their other faces. Like them we are all too familiar with hiding away that true part of ourselves whether it’s during office hours our around family, counting down until the next moment of release.

Lovers Rock feels like a passion piece from McQueen. It is more concerned with visuals, colour tones, and capturing those minute details like the walls sweating with condensation, and bodies moving together to the jams of lovers rock, and you know what? – I’m okay with that.

Trailer Below….

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Next up: Red, White and Blue premiering on BBC One, Sunday 29th November 2020.