Tag: Steve McQueen

EDUCATION (2020)

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Story By & Directed by: Steve McQueen 
Written by: Alastair Siddons 
Cinematography: Shabier Kirschner
Editor: Chris Dickens & Steve McQueen 

Cast: Naomi Ackie, Kenyah Sandy, Jade Anouka, Nigel Boyle, Daniel Francis, Sharlene Wyte 

Education is the coming of age story of 12-year-old Kingsley, who has a fascination for astronauts and rockets. When Kingsley is pulled to the headmaster’s office for being disruptive in class, he discovers he’s being sent to a school for those with “special needs.” Distracted by working two jobs, his parents are unaware of the unofficial segregation policy at play, preventing many Black children from receiving the education they deserve, until a group of West Indian women takes matters into their own hands.

This is part of Director Steve McQueen’s Small Axe series of films. A kind of miniseries of five films that showcase stories of the struggles of the Caribbean and black citizens in the United Kingdom. Shining a light on them and usually who they have been abused and mistreated by the system 

This film seems to be more about a subject than a character. Though it is played out through characters, a central family mainly and the women activists. Who strive to help them and other families left in the same predicament.

The film focuses on a young boy in a working-class family. Who is disruptive and has a hard time reading. In his school his acting out is met harshly where he is routinely insulted and more put out by teachers who have no time for him and find him more of a distraction for other students. He is quickly removed from the school and sent to a new school for special children 

Throughout we find out that this new school is barely a school that offers an education. As the kids are left to their own devices most of the time and when there are teachers around they seem more like they don’t want to be bothered or do whatever they want to do like play songs and consider that teaching.

These schools are obviously more like holding dens for children the proper schools want to deal with and don’t want to help or give proper attention to.

The crux of the film is educating the parents of children sent to Jesse schools as to what is happening and Kingsley’s mother really paying attention to it all and doing something about it as she searches for answers and resolutions to the growing problem. Which seems to target minority children and immigrant children.

As the teachers seem to not want to nurture these kids and are setting them up for no future. These ladies eventually set up Saturday schools meant to teach the lessons these children are missing and nurture them to want to learn and believe in themselves and most of all encourage them.

It shows you the caste and class system that still exists and the roots of education where it can take you and lead you and most of all how important it is to a child that you show attention and faith in them as much as a study has faith in you.

It ends open-ended but it is one that definitely ends with hope and an all-around happiness even if abrupt. It offers an answer and hopefully a promise.

Grade: B

SMALL AXE: ALEX WHEATLE (2020)

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Directed By: Steve McQueen 
Written By: Steve McQueen & Alastair Siddons 
Cinematography: Shabier Kirchner 
Editor: Chris Dickens & Steve McQueen

Cast: Sheyi Cole, Khali Best, Fumilayo Brown-Olatej, Riley Burgin, Ross Cahill, Zakiyyah Deen, Robbie Gee, Jonathan Jules, Ashley McGuire 

Alex Wheatle follows the true story of award-winning writer, Alex Wheatle, from a young boy through his early adult years. Having spent his childhood in a mostly white institutional care home with no love or family, he finally finds not only a sense of community for the first time in Brixton, but his identity and ability to grow his passion for music and DJing. When he is thrown in prison during the Brixton Uprising of 1981, he confronts his past and sees a path to healing

Though short on running time at barely over an hour. As this is part of a television series, but feel more like films. Each film is part of an anthology. The film makes its point about identity. How you fail to grow without one because you have no idea who you are or where you come from. You have no ground to stand on to grow from really.

As the main character we are introduced to as a child in the ul foster care system constantly abused and neglected by Caucasian’s who are supposed to be looking out for him but seem to resent him. He doesn’t know his past or even too much culture as he is alienated and then eventually dumped into an apartment in a low-income neighborhood

Though at least mroe amongst people like him. West Indian and African immigrants who take him in and he learns culture, survival and the streets form them. As they help to also nurture his love of music. 

We see as he matures in the streets a sort of coming of age story of himself and we see how he strives especially not knowing his past. He finds it hard to carve out a future and even figure himself out. As he is usually made fun of and talked down to by those around him because he isn’t quite as grounded as they are.

He tells his story in jail to his cellmate after being arrested for his participation in the Braxton rots and strangely enough, his cellmate is the one who sets him straight. Explain g to him to learn his own history and unlearn the bad thing she has been taught.

He also gives him some life lessons to learn on his own. As this story is based o a true story and person. You can easily figure out the ending.

While this isn’t as electrifying as the other films in The small axe series of films and quite shorter it is easy to see why it was made and this story told it not only helps lead into the final film of the set. It also tells a tale of rehabilitation, self-rehabilitation. 

It also feels like the first act of a much bigger story. Where you wish the film expanded into mroe of a life story. As it is fine the way it is but it also feels like a chapter or chapters of a life that we know by the end will be much more fulfilling and deserves mroe then just an update and pre-credits scene explaining. What Happened to the character 

Grade: B-

HALL OF FAME – FILE #0065: LOVER’S ROCK (2020)

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Story & Directed By: Steve McQueen
Written By: Steve McQueen & Courttia Newland
Cinematography: Shabier Kirchner
Editor: Chris Dickens & Steve McQueen

Cast: Amarah-Jae St. Aubyn, Michael Ward, Shaniqua Okwok, Kedar Williams Stirling, Ellis George, Francis Lovehall, Daniel Francis-Swaby, Kadeem Ramsey 

A single evening at a house party in 1980s West London sets the scene, developing intertwined relationships against a background of violence, romance, and music.

This is a film that would have truly earned the title of a house party. A birthday party. As we see the preparation, setting up, the start of the actual party and the aftermath.

What makes this film feel so strong is that you can go off on it’s vibe alone. As the dancing is Choreographed and Improvised dance sequences 

This film could be near silent as you feed off the energy, the music, the dancing, the mood and the characters everything you need to know you feel through them.

The strength of this Is that mostly the film is about this house party we meet different characters as the prepare and set-up the party. People getting ready for the party and then finally arriving even though we follow two characters more than others we see how they connect and meet and how their connection affects others. As we then Follow different characters throughout some who we never even know their names, but you will recognize people you might regularly see at parties

Either that or this is the house party of your dreams. People coming together for a celebration that is all about joy. As especially in these pandemic times it reminds you of parties you might be missing and gets you In That perfect mood watching.

At the heart of the film. There is a blossoming romantic tale. Though it never overpowers everything else it gets it’s due diligence just as others do. 

Imagine the party scene in CITY OF GOD set to  the song Casinha de Sape by Hyldon that is only In One scene but takes you away. This whole film feels like that one scene only the edges smoothed away so that it feels like making. A clay vase that is how director Steve McQueen handles it with care making sure the curves and shape is right and at the end has a perfect specimen

Loose and beautiful all about the culture just being natural and the good times. Celebration for different reasons. The 

This is part of his SMALL AXE series of films meant to show West Indians and Caribbean Americans way of life in England usually the hardships and prejudice they face in the 1960’s – 80’s. This film is his most natural film as it focuses only on the party and 24 hours. Though as happy as this film is Caucasians do work themselves Into scenes between both unpleasant that usually show them trying to disrupt a good time. 

As theaters are closed this would have been a good film to experience in the theater to see how it affects an audience. As it is a film it also feels like a good time while you watch.

As you do feel like you are a participant and very little outside of this party matters In The film.  Like when One of the main characters friends leaves we never get a resolution to that or find out where they went. 

The same when a near-rape happens luckily it is stopped but there is no justice no arrests. The guy actually stays at the party throughout bout so does the victim.

Situations are brought up and never explored after the fact. A whole backstory comes out of nowhere or a cool character throughout is brought down by a superior who normally would have any power over him but also allows for a chink in his otherwise impeachable armor.

Everyone we see might fit family types of characters but show themselves to be lived In human beings. As we never get anyone’s full story we only get what comes naturally, shown or told.

A movie you more appreciate and want to return to Though also showing. To a certain extent that anytime we try to enjoy ourselves there is someone trying to shut it down seen as a threat. 

Those moments where you just feel the music the revelry the crowd And in the end it even has a nice punchline. 

All this and a killer ska and reggae soundtrack. 

Grade: A

WIDOWS (2018)

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Directed By: Steve McQueen
Written By: Gillian Flynn & Steve McQueen
Based On “Widows” By: Lynda La Plante
Cinematography By: Sean Bobbitt
Editor: Joe Walker 

Cast: Viola Davis, Colin Farrell, Robert Duvall, Brian Tyree Henry, Daniel Kaluuya, Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki, Cynthia Erivo, Liam Neeson, Lukas Haas, Jon Bernthal, Carrie Coon, Jacki Weaver, Ann Mitchell, Garret Dillahunt, Kevin J O’Connor 


 “Widows” is the story of four women with nothing in common except a debt left behind by their dead husbands’ criminal activities. Set in contemporary Chicago, amid a time of turmoil, tensions build when Veronica, Alice, Linda and Belle take their fate into their own hands and conspire to forge a future on their own terms.

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