Small Axe (anthology) explained

Genre:	Drama
Creator:	Steve McQueen
Director:	Steve McQueen
Composer:	Mica Levi
Country:	United Kingdom
Language:	English
Num Series:	1
Num Episodes:	5
List Episodes:	Films
Cinematography:	Shabier Kirchner
Runtime:	405 minutes
Network:	BBC One

Small Axe is a British anthology film series, created and directed by Steve McQueen. The anthology consists of five films that tell distinct stories about the lives of West Indian immigrants in London from the 1960s to the 1980s.^[1] Two episodes of the series were selected into the 2020 Cannes Film Festival. The series premiered on 15 November 2020 on BBC One in the United Kingdom and on 20 November 2020 on Amazon Prime Video in the United States.^{[2] [3]} The title references a proverb – "Small axe fall big tree" or "If you are the big tree, we are the small axe" – that was popularised by Bob Marley in his 1973 song "Small Axe".^[4]

Films

Episode	Title	Director	Screenwriters	UK release date^[5]	US release date^[6]	Runtime
1	Mangrove	Steve McQueen	McQueen and Alastair Siddons	15 November 2020	20 November 2020	128 min.
2	Lovers Rock		McQueen and Courttia Newland	22 November 2020	27 November 2020	68 min.
3	Red, White, and Blue			29 November 2020	4 December 2020	80 min.
4	Alex Wheatle		McQueen and Alastair Siddons	6 December 2020	11 December 2020	66 min.
5	Education			13 December 2020	18 December 2020	63 min.

Production

Development

It has been reported that Steve McQueen began working on the idea for Small Axe in 2010, and that some form of the series was in development since 2012.^{[7] [8]} While the series was initially conceived as a conventional television series with a serialized story, McQueen realized during development that he had sufficient material to make several distinct films. In January 2014, it was announced that he would write and direct an untitled television series for either BBC One or BBC Two about the experience of black people in Britain.^[9] In August 2015, it was announced that the series would air on BBC One.^[10] In June 2019, Amazon Prime Video was announced to be distributing the series in the United States, with Amazon Studios co-producing.^[11] The screenwriters include the British-Caribbean novelist Courttia Newland (author of The Gospel According to Cane, 2013) and Alastair Siddons.

Casting

In June 2019, it was announced that Letitia Wright, John Boyega, Malachi Kirby, Shaun Parkes, Rochenda Sandall, Alex Jennings, and Jack Lowden had joined the cast of the series.^[12] In January 2020, Micheal Ward joined the cast of the series.^[13]

Release

Lovers Rock had its world premiere as the opener of the 58th New York Film Festival on 17 September 2020.^{[14] [15] [16]} Mangrove had its world premiere at the festival on 25 September,^{[17] [18]} and Red, White, and Blue on 3 October.^[19] Mangrove also opened the 64th BFI London Film Festival on 7 October 2020;^[20] Lovers Rock screened at the same festival on 18 October.^{[21] [22]}

The series premiered in the UK on BBC One on 15 November 2020 and in the United States on Amazon Prime Video on 20 November 2020, with one episode released per week on both platforms.^{[23] [24]}

The series received a Blu-Ray release by The Criterion Collection on 25 April 2023. The release includes the five films, plus interviews and conversations with director Steve McQueen and cast/crew members, the 2021 documentary Uprising (codirected by McQueen and James Rogan), trailers, and an essay by Ashley Clark.^[25]

Reception

Critical response

Critical press reviews of each individual film were positive. All five films received approval ratings of at least 95% on the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, while Metacritic assigned four of the five a score indicating "universal acclaim".

Lovers Rock, in particular, was named the best film of 2020 by the British film magazine Sight & Sound in its poll of 104 critics worldwide; Mangrove came in at 13th.^[26]

Film	Rotten Tomatoes rating	Metacritic rating
Mangrove	99% approval (8.79/10 average)^[27]	90 (27 critics)^[28]
Lovers Rock	98% approval (8.82/10 average)^[29]	95 (27 critics)^[30]
Red, White and Blue	97% approval (8.31/10 average)^[31]	84 (18 critics)^[32]
Alex Wheatle	97% approval (7.35/10 average)^[33]	77 (17 critics)^[34]
Education	95% approval (7.94/10 average)^[35]	87 (15 critics)^[36]

Accolades

Award	Category	Nominee(s)	Result
Boston Society of Film Critics Awards	Best Cinematography	Shabier Kirchner (for "Lovers Rock")		^[37]
Broadcasting Press Guild	Best Drama Series	Small Axe		^[38]
	Best Actress	Letitia Wright
	Best Actor	Shaun Parkes
	Best Writer	Steve McQueen, Courttia Newland, Rebecca Lenkiewicz and Alastair Siddons
	Breakthrough Award	Amarah-Jae St. Aubyn
British Academy Television Awards	Best Mini-Series	Steve McQueen, Tracey Scoffield, David Tanner, Michael Elliott, Anita Overland		^[39]
	Best Actor	John Boyega (for "Red, White and Blue")
		Shaun Parkes (for "Mangrove")
	Best Actress	Letitia Wright (for "Mangrove")
	Best Supporting Actor	Malachi Kirby (for "Mangrove")
		Micheal Ward (for "Lovers Rock")
British Academy Television Craft Awards	Best Costume Design	Jacqueline Durran
	Best Director: Fiction	Steve McQueen
	Best Editing: Fiction	Chris Dickens and Steve McQueen
	Best Make Up and Hair Design	Jojo Williams
	Best Photography & Lighting: Fiction	Shabier Kirchner
	Best Production Design	Helen Scott
	Best Scripted Casting	Gary Davy
	Best Sound: Fiction	Paul Cotterell, James Harrison, Ronald Bailey
	Best Writer: Drama	Alastair Siddons and Steve McQueen
British Society of Cinematographers Awards	Best Cinematography in a Television Drama	Shabier Kirchner		^[40]
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards	Best Film	Lovers Rock		^[41]
	Best Director	Steve McQueen (for "Lovers Rock")
	Best Supporting Actress	Letitia Wright (for "Mangrove")
	Best Cinematography	Shabier Kirchner (for "Lovers Rock")
	Best Editing	Chris Dickens and Steve McQueen (for "Lovers Rock")
Critics' Choice Television Awards	Best Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television	John Boyega (for "Red, White and Blue")		^[42]
Golden Globe Awards	Best Limited Series or Television Film	Small Axe		^[43]
	Best Supporting Actor – Television	John Boyega
Gotham Awards	Breakthrough Series – Long Format	Small Axe		^[44]
Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards	Best Streaming Limited Series, Anthology Series or Live-Action Television Movie	Small Axe		^[45]
	Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or Television Movie	John Boyega
Independent Spirit Awards	Best New Scripted Series	Small Axe		^[46]
London Film Critics Circle Awards	Film of the Year	Lovers Rock		^[47]
	Director of the Year	Small Axe
	Supporting Actor of the Year	Shaun Parkes
	Attenborough Award for British/Irish Film of the Year	Lovers Rock
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards	Best Picture	Small Axe		^[48]
	Best Director	Steve McQueen
	Best Cinematography	Shabier Kirchner
	Best Music	Mica Levi (for "Lovers Rock")
NAACP Image Awards	Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series	Steve McQueen (for "Mangrove")		^[49]
New York Film Critics Circle Awards	Best Cinematographer	Shabier Kirchner		^[50]
Primetime Emmy Awards	Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie	Shabier Kirchner (for "Mangrove")		^[51]
RTS Programme Awards	Mini-Series	Small Axe		^[52]
	Actor - Male
	Writer - Drama	Steve McQueen and Alistair Siddeon
RTS Craft & Design Awards	Director - Drama	Steve McQueen		^[53]
Satellite Awards	Best Miniseries & Limited Series	Small Axe		^[54]
	Best Actor in a Miniseries or TV Film	John Boyega
	Best Actress in a Miniseries or TV Film	Letitia Wright
Peabody Awards	Entertainment	Small Axe		^[55]

External links

• "These are the untold stories that make up our nation": Steve McQueen on Small Axe, David Olusoga's interview with Steve McQueen about Small Axe, in Sight & Sound, 13 November 2020.
  • at Amazon Prime Video

Notes and References

1. Web site: Rose. Steve. 2020-12-18. The 50 best TV shows of 2020, No 3: Small Axe. 2021-01-17. www.theguardian.com. en.
2. Web site: 'Small Axe': BBC Unveils First-Look At Steve McQueen Period Drama . . Peter . White . 10 September 2019 . 3 June 2020.
3. See John Boyega and Letitia Wright in new trailer for Steve McQueen's Small Axe anthology. Entertainment Weekly. Tyler. Aquillina. 19 September 2020. 19 September 2020.
4. Web site: Charlie . Duffield. 10 November 2020. Small Axe: Mangrove cast: Who stars in the first film of Steve McQueen's series, and when it's on BBC One. 17 November 2020. inews.co.uk.
5. Web site: Watson. Fay. 2020-12-12. Small Axe BBC release date: How many episodes are in Small Axe?. 2020-12-27. Express.co.uk. en.
6. Web site: Beck. Lia. 21 November 2020. Steve McQueen's Small Axe Film Series Deserves Your Attention. 2020-12-27. Refinery29. en.
7. Web site: BBC. 18 November 2020. Steve McQueen's new film about a peaceful protest gone wrong. 28 November 2020. YouTube.
8. News: Clark. Ashley. 11 November 2020. In 'Small Axe,' Steve McQueen Explores Britain's Caribbean Heritage. en-US. The New York Times. 29 November 2020. 0362-4331.
9. Web site: Steve McQueen, BBC Developing Drama Series On The Black Experience In Britain. Deadline Hollywood. Nancy. Tartaglione. 10 January 2014. 3 June 2020.
10. Web site: BBC Details Steve McQueen Drama; Sets Motown-Themed Series – Edinburgh. Deadline Hollywood. Nancy. Tartaglione. 26 August 2015. 3 June 2020.
11. Web site: Amazon Boards '12 Years A Slave' Director Steve McQueen's Forthcoming BBC West Indian Drama 'Small Axe'. Deadline Hollywood. Peter. White. 25 June 2019. 3 June 2020.
12. Web site: Letitia Wright & John Boyega Lead Cast In Steve McQueen BBC TV Drama 'Small Axe'. Deadline Hollywood. Andreas. Wiseman. 26 June 2019. 3 June 2020.
13. Web site: BAFTA Rising Star Nominee Micheal Ward Lands A Lead Role In Steve McQueen's 'Small Axe'. Deadline Hollywood. Jake. Kanter. 16 January 2020. 3 June 2020.
14. Web site: Fleming . Mike Jr.. 3 August 2020. New York Film Festival Sets Steve McQueen's 'Lovers Rock' For Opening Night; Drive-Ins, Virtual Showings To Supplement Possible Lincoln Center Screenings. 3 August 2020. Deadline Hollywood.
15. Web site: Steve McQueen On Capturing The Joys & Struggles With Racism Of London's '70s Black West Indies Culture In NYFF Opening Night Film 'Lovers Rock'. Deadline Hollywood. Mike Jr.. Fleming. 16 September 2020. 5 October 2020.
16. Steve McQueen's 'Lovers Rock' to Open New York Film Festival . . Brent . Lang . 3 August 2020 . 3 August 2020.
17. Web site: Navedo. Raul. 25 September 2020. Mangrove Review NYFF. 19 November 2020. Minorities Report. en-US.
18. Web site: Mangrove. New York Film Festival. 2020. 5 October 2020.
19. Web site: Red White and Blue. New York Film Festival. 2020. 5 October 2020.
20. Variety. Saoirse Ronan, Kate Winslet Drama 'Ammonite' to Close BFI London Film Festival. Ramachandran. Naman. 26 August 2020. 15 September 2020.
21. Web site: Steve McQueen's 'Lovers Rock' Added to London Film Festival. The Hollywood Reporter. Alex. Ritman. 23 September 2020. 5 October 2020.
22. Web site: Lovers Rock. https://web.archive.org/web/20210122055307/https://www.bfi.org.uk/london-film-festival/screenings/lovers-rock. dead. 22 January 2021. BFI London Film Festival. 2020. 5 October 2020.
23. Web site: 'Small Axe': Steve McQueen's Anthology Drama Gets BBC Premiere Date. Deadline Hollywood. Jake. Kanter. 7 October 2020. 8 October 2020.
24. Web site: Steve McQueen's 'Small Axe' Premieres November 20 on Amazon Prime Video in the US. The Futon Critic. 20 September 2020. 5 October 2020.
25. Web site: Small Axe . 2023-04-23 . The Criterion Collection . en.
26. News: The 50 best films of 2020. 17 July 2021. Sight & Sound. British Film Institute. 11 December 2020.
27. small_axe/s01. Mangrove. tv. 7 March 2021.
28. . Retrieved 20 December 2020.
29. small_axe/s02. Lovers Rock. tv. 7 March 2021.
30. . Retrieved 20 December 2020.
31. small_axe/s03. Red, White and Blue. tv. 7 March 2021.
32. . Retrieved 20 December 2020.
33. small_axe/s04. Alex Wheatle. tv. 7 March 2021.
34. . Retrieved 20 December 2020.
35. small_axe/s05. Education. tv. 7 March 2021.
36. Education. small-axe-education. movie. 7 March 2021.
37. Web site: 'Nomadland' Named Best Picture at Boston Society of Film Critics Awards, Paul Raci and Yuh-jung Youn Among Winners . Davis . Clayton . 13 December 2020 . Variety . 13 December 2020.
38. News: 'I May Destroy You' & Michaela Coel Win Big At Broadcasting Press Guild Awards . Jake. Kantner. Deadline Hollywood. 12 March 2021.
39. Web site: BAFTA TV 2021: Nominations for the Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards and British Academy Television Craft Awards. 2021-04-28. www.bafta.org. en. 2021-04-28.
40. Web site: Best Cinematography in a Television Drama - Winners. British Society of Cinematographers. 4 February 2023.
41. Web site: Chloe Zhao's Nomadland Leads Chicago Film Critics Association 2020 Nominations. Ryan. Adams. 18 December 2020 . AwardsDaily . 22 December 2020.
42. Web site: Ramos. Dino-Ray. 2021-01-18. Critics Choice Awards TV Nominations: 'Ozark', 'The Crown' & Netflix Lead. 2021-01-19. Deadline. en-US.
43. Web site: Golden Globes 2021: The Complete Nominations List . Oganesyan . Jordan Moreau . Natalie. 3 February 2021 . Variety . en-GB . 3 February 2021.
44. Web site: Gotham Awards 2021 Nominations: 'Pig,' 'Green Knight,' 'Passing' Compete for Best Feature. IndieWire. Zack. Sharf. October 21, 2021. November 27, 2021.
45. Web site: Ted Lasso, The Handmaid's Tale, and Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist lead Inaugural HCA TV Awards Nominations . Hollywood Critics Association. July 8, 2021. July 11, 2021. en-US.
46. Web site: Film Independent Spirit Awards: 'Never Rarely Sometimes Always,' 'Minari,' 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom,' 'Nomadland' Top Nominations . Lewis . Hilary . 26 January 2021 . . 26 January 2021.
47. News: Female Filmmakers Lead Nominees for Critics Circle Film Awards. Cline . Rich . 12 January 2021 . . 13 January 2021. en-GB.
48. Web site: Alter. Rebecca. 2020-12-20. The L.A. Film Critics Association Names Small Axe Their Best Picture of 2020. 2020-12-22. Vulture. en-us.
49. Web site: NAACP Image Awards Nominations: Netflix Tops List With 'Bridgerton', 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' & 'Da 5 Bloods'. Del Rosario. Alexandra . 2 February 2021. Deadline Hollywood. 3 February 2021.
50. Web site: Lindahl. Chris. Blauvelt. Christian. 2020-12-18. New York Film Critics Circle 2020 Winners: 'First Cow,' Chadwick Boseman, and More. 2020-12-22. IndieWire. en.
51. Web site: Small Axe . Emmys.com . . July 13, 2021.
52. News: Winners of the RTS Programme Awards 2021 announced. Royal Television Society. 16 March 2021.
53. Web site: CRAFT & DESIGN AWARDS 2021. Royal Television Society. 18 June 2021 . 17 March 2023.
54. Web site: 25th Satellite Awards Nominees for Motion Pictures and Television Announced . Van Blaricom. Mirjana . 1 February 2021 . . 1 February 2021.
55. Web site: Small Axe: The Peabody Awards Profile . October 17, 2022. Peabody Awards. en.