Mangrove review: Steve McQueen’s Small Axe movie is heartbreaking yet full of life
As the harassment continues, the film feels greyer, with less reggae music and more harrowing strings defining each shot, with one moment seeing a solitary colander spin, as if representing the hopeless continuation of their persecution.
One copper is even told to ‘nick the first black man you find,’ seeing him target a young, black boy who is chased in a gruelling and harrowing moment, ending with his mother in tears on the floor of the police station out of anger and disgust at her son’s treatment.
The court scenes are filled with righteous defiance from the defendants, with their lawyers (played by Jack Lowden) urging them to rile up the judge and show the true colours of their persecutors.
Of course, no court scene would be complete without a rousing speech from the defendants, but with his friends and supporters standing above, behind, and to his sides, this is more like a moment of empowerment for more than just them, as Altheia perfectly describes in a heartfelt scene only minutes before.
Published at Wed, 07 Oct 2020 14:54:44 +0000
