Release Date – 22nd November 2020, Run-time – 1 hour 8 minutes, Director – Steve McQueen

At a house party in 1980’s London relationships are formed, developed and tested as the music plays and people take to the floor to dance together over the course of one night.

There’s a point in Steve McQueen’s Lovers Rock – the second in his Small Axe series of films – where everything simply stops. You’re entranced in the various bright hues that fill the room, but more so by every single figure in that space swaying from side to side as they join together to sing Janet Kay’s Silly Games. It lifts you up into a space free from not only gravity but stresses, cares and worries. This type of communal rejoice is often only saved for moments of darkness and threat, as characters prepare to meet an early fate. And yet Steve McQueen’s direction, as he gently allows the camera to effortlessly float through the crowd, captures something far from this. Simply people coming together to have a good time, transported by the music that connects them. This magical moment of pure energy and joy is certain to stay with you long after the credits close.

The reason for this scene being the setting of a house part in 1980’s London. Many have gathered to escape after a long day and simply have a good time, to loose themselves in the reggae that pumps from the large speakers in the front room. For most of the run time we follow Martha (Amarah-Jae St. Aubyn) as she weaves her way through the various rooms, layers and people in the house. Bumping into past relationships and developing new ones along the way. While there are confrontations and moments of mild tension – harassment from a group of white men outside the house creates a particular strand of brief worry and fear as Martha finds herself alone in the street – there’s always the trustworthy escape of the song and dance of the party, alongside her spark with fellow British-Jamaican Franklyn (Micheal Ward).

Much like Brian Welsh’s sensational Beats it’s easy to find yourself engaged within the music and dance. As you witness the characters simply let go and become themselves to the sound of each song – as the tunes gradually fade away to reveal the person inside each lover and dancer present. It’s an infectiously good time as the figures allow for a celebration of identity and personality. As was the case with the gloriously uplifting street party scenes in McQueen’s first entry into his Small Axe quintet, Mangrove. Yet, Lovers Rock is almost entirely this form of relief. We see the characters interact and have their individual conversations, enough to be allowed to know enough about them to have a connection and understand their connections and relationships, but not too much to form a heavy plot that needs to be precisely followed. This is a party. People turning up to have a good time, there may be one or two spills along the way, but the opportunity to let loose is still very much in play throughout.

Relationships grow, you notice and feel that. It might be one night of heady romance, but there’s the hope and feeling that there could be something more between Martha and Franklyn, the fact it could go either way and we only see the events of the night help to capture the feeling of the piece. And like the night that it takes part over McQueen’s film very much feels like a one off, something unique and different – especially during the aforementioned Silly Games scene – that’s not quite been seen before. In a number of ways it is bold and original, assisted by McQueen’s boundlessly brilliant direction, having also penned the screenplay with Courttia Newland. Yet, the most effective thing about the whole piece, over the course of its short 68 minute run-time, is how easy it is just to sink into it. After quickly establishing its themes and what it wants to do Lovers Rock simply does what the title suggests. It gets caught up within the music that it makes and takes you along for however long to an entirely different place. A place of calm, freedom, celebration, joy and so much more. The negativity being the brief pauses in-between songs, luckily there’s plenty left of the playlist.

This is something different and effective. And yet it simply seems to step out just to tell a simple story and have a good time doing so, and that is very much the case. McQueen, his cast and crew seem to have had a good time making this feature – the nostalgic fingerprints that cover each frame seem to suggest so. An overall deep breath of sobering fresh air amongst a light musical cocktail. Who cares about what the next day, or even morning, is going to bring? For now let’s just celebrate who we are together, the simple things can link us bring power and harmony. Lovers Rock heartily sings this as it breezes by, not forgetting to leave its imprint in your mind.

Lovers Rock is a celebration of personality and identity. Steve McQueen and co create an occasionally mesmerising world of uplifting energy that you can’t help but be caught up in. The brief elements of potential threat are handled well but this is overall an infectiously good time as the night plays out.

Release Date – 15 November 2020, Run-time – 2 hours 6 minutes, Director – Steve McQueen

After multiple racist police attacks around the Mangrove restaurant a group of local figures and regulars get together to stage a protest, after ending violently they find themselves on trial, fighting for their futures and equality.

Much like the internal feelings of its characters Steve McQueen’s Mangrove is a swirling cocktail of emotions. As you get caught up within the infectiously joyful celebrations of music and dancing in the streets outside the titular Mangrove restaurant you’re soon knocked down with fear and emotion as the police enter the situation. Frank Crichlow (a magnificent Shaun Parkes!) runs the landmark meeting place where local West Indians living in or near Notting Hill frequent. Since its opening in 1968 the business, and its visitors, have been subject to endless racist raids from the local police, led by the cruel, unjust and unprovoked PC Pulley (Sam Spruell) – a figure who causes the blood to rage and boil at his sneering, overbearing behaviour and attitude. All instantly shattering the weightless uplift of the limitlessly enlivening parties that, even more joyously, start from a small spark from almost nowhere.

After many months of putting up with this a number of key local figures, including British Black Panther Movement leader Altheia Jones (Letitia Wright), stage a protest in response to their mistreatment and suffering. However, these actions soon end in further violent attacks. As with the bright energy of the street celebrations McQueen’s direction of the chaos that unfolds during these moments of violence emphasises the rapid nature of the events, while also managing to display their true impact. With each cut to a new angle, character and focus the viewer is made aware of what is happening to individual people as they, along with the characters, find themselves lost in the mess of the unfolding battle – tragically reflecting events we still witness today, allowing for such moments to have an even greater punch.

It’s not long until select members of the group – being named as The Mangrove Nine – find themselves on trial, trying to save their futures and avoid prison simply for their fight for equality. While there does seem to be a tonal shift for this second hour the quality is still upheld. McQueen’s finely scripted courtroom drama is fantastically paced, lingering on each vital element, allowing the audience to relish every carefully-sculpted word that the characters utter. Wanting to see them succeed, but worrying that in a 1970 court, and police witnesses lying to uphold their reputation over anything else, things are unlikely to swing in their favour. During a shot of the ceiling of The Old Bailey court the word “Truth” sticks out, remaining in the mind of the viewer. As anger rises in the courtroom, fuelled further by the fantastic performances from the entire cast, the tension also increases. You feel each knockback for the characters, not to mention their hope and burning passion. All kept in place by the ever wonderful direction of Steve McQueen.

While there might be a slight tonal shift about half way through there’s still a brilliant passionately told story at the heart of Mangrove. Told and performed with care, thought and a sense of urgency McQueen, along with the entire cast and crew, has created an engaging, lively, emotional, tense and even at times humorous within its joy. A celebration of identity, urging for equality with a loudly beating heart that brings you in for an affecting, engaging and finely tuned work of cinema. This is truly something great, accessible for all and something that should certainly be seen by all.

Steve McQueen refuses to calm down and with Mangrove he proves that he is consistently always at the top of his game. A fantastically directed, scripted and performed film – with a standout performance from Shaun Parkes – this is an emotional celebration of identity, power and so much more.

Release Date – N/A, Cert – N/A, Run-time – 1 hour 41 minutes, Director – Ekwa Msangi

After seventeen years apart an Angolan immigrant (Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine) is reunited in New York with his wife (Zainab Jah) and daughter (Jayme Lawson) having to not just rebuild relationships but build them from the start

When it comes to awards seasons I hope that Farewell Amor is remembered after it’s hopeful release, specifically for it’s leading performance from Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine. Bringing to life a character which he performs with sadness, loss, regret and so much more all hidden behind his eyes. He plays Walter, an Angolan immigrant living in New York who, after seventeen years apart, is reunited with his wife, Esther (Zainab Jah) and daughter Sylvia (Jayme Lawson), both brought to life by equally great performances. Walter finds himself having to do more than just rebuild relationships, but in the case of his daughter he has to start a bond from the very start, after having been absent for almost her entire life.

While for Esther the first response is to run to Walter at the airport and greet him with a tight embrace, she’s happy to finally see her husband again and live a life of joy in the land of the free, for Sylvia the case is quite different. She’s already been given no choice about moving away from all her friends to another country where she has to start anew, her mother doesn’t allow her to fulfil her passion of dancing and she has to now live with a total stranger, apparently her father, in a tightly packed apartment – with only one proper bedroom. Her greeting, a silently half-hearted, slightly awkward and uncertain handshake, after having been left to the side as if she isn’t there.

All of this just scratches the surface of the various passions, desires and secrets of each character. Walter has felt so distant over the previous 17 years that he has had to end an affair just as his wife is arriving back to him, something which he hopes will remain a secret. You can fell the emotion of the loose bonds and connections between the three. Walter tries to be a good father, engaging with his daughter, however he knows almost nothing about her and so struggles to talk to her – while his wife seems to be rather strict with her. There’s a feeling during such scenes where the family are attempting to bond, or rather pretending that everything is alright, that you fell the tense nature of the situations. You know that they know this is the case, but sit through the lack of conversation and struggles, as they do.

The way that writer-director Ekwa Msangi tells the story adds to the depth of each character. Allowing one perspective to be shown, then another and another. All while adding extra pieces of detail in each time, progressing the narrative at the end of each one; never looking at the same events. You understand each figure, their personal views and struggles while also focusing on the mindsets of others. When focusing on one character the film still allows you to remember the thoughts and feelings of others and what they are going through, while still ensuring that you know who the central focus is at any specific point. And it all works and comes together telling an emotionally engaging story with brilliantly performed figures who you can’t help but empathise for and with. It’s hard to believe, with everything that this film does, that this is Msangi’s feature debut!

Questions are raised as to where each person feels they belong. Where is home? Who are they, and who do they want to be with? During one key conversation Walter utters the words “After the war the home that I knew was gone”. This is a story about lives shaken up. Tragedies and the bonds they create and destroy. But, most prominently and importantly, a story about people trying to connect with each other, at times something which seems to be an impossible task. This is a film told with emotion, care and honesty. Something that feels genuine and real. Brought to life by caring direction from Ekwa Msangi and the passionately detailed and thoughtful performances that bring the characters in her screenplay to life. And what truly brings it together and proves the effect that the film has had is the warmth and emotion emitted from the final shots after a carefully sculpted final stages.

Mwine, Jah and Lawson are all stunning in the leading roles in Ekwa Msangi’s feature debut. Filled with care, passion and empathy this is a brilliantly told story of separation and connection that you can’t help but be caught up in the emotion of.

Release Date – N/A, Cert – N/A, Run-time – 1 hour 32 minutes, Director – Abel Ferrara

A man (Willem Dafoe) journeys into a cave to confront both his past and his dreams, or nightmares

Willem Dafoe has definitely had a thing for playing characters in remote situations seemingly going mad. After the release of The Lighthouse earlier this year we now find him in Abel Ferrara’s Serbia as a bar-owner in the middle of the Serbian mountains. Serving few patrons and simply living his days calmly, peacefully and with little interactions, those that he does have are rarely in his own language. His behaviour and isolation implies that he’s been running from something, trying to hide from it – the film backing this up with its general concept. And so, over the course of the film we see his journey through a cave, where he goes to confront his past and his dreams.

At this point it would seem fitting to briefly explain some of the events that occur within the cave, a bit more about the plot, unfortunately from here not a great deal makes sense. There are numerous interjections as Dafoe’s character seemingly reimagines scenarios with his family – him playing each figure including his Mum and Dad, and there are points where the film seems to pick up or begin to make sense as these moments go on. However, it’s not long until the seemingly deep-thinking, metaphorical, philosophical, psychological conundrums of the film come back into play and it seems to float around in an unspecified space or realm trying to say something with the viewer unsure as to what that might be.

Dafoe’s Clint enters the cave in the hope of confronting his past and dreams, to make peace with himself and others. In a number of ways the film itself feels like a 92 minute dream, nightmare might potentially be more fitting, sequence. Many occurrences are strange and unusual, and definitely beyond explanation. They feel trippy and weird throughout the entire film. You’re never truly grasped by it, instead such feelings act as a barrier towards you properly engaging with the film, if you’re able to understand most of what’s actually going on amongst the constant jumping back and forth between ideas, sequences and numerous naked bodies.

There are individual ideas lightly scattered at certain intervals over the course of the film that show some potential. Hope that things might pick up and start to properly get going amongst the slow stagger of madness that the film otherwise displays. Simon McBurney, simply credited as Magician, turns up for a few minutes and shows some promise. Not exactly bringing you in to the film, but at least doing something to help it along somehow. And yet the film as a whole never really comes together. It seems almost too much and as if it needs a bit more explanation over just showing you multiple dream sequences to construct a 92 minute fever-dream-cum-nightmare-sequence, not to mention the regular sex scenes/ nudist parties. Siberia seems to be trying to say something, but the way that it goes about it is just too unengaging, scattered and generally all over the place in terms of plot and ideas, makes it unclear as to what that is and overall makes for a rather lengthy and dissatisfying watch.

Possibly one of the weirdest and trippiest dream/ hallucination sequences ever made Siberia never properly clicks, simply disengaging the viewer due to its seemingly busy yet structurally lacking, not to mention confusing, narrative and detail.

Release Date – 23rd October 2020, Cert – 15, Run-time – 1 hour 23 minutes, Director – Yemi Bamiro

Documentary about basketball and Michael Jordan’s part in the rise of Nike shoes

Within the first 15 minutes of One Man And His Shoes you feel as if you’re watching an Aaron Sorkin directed documentary. Yemi Bamiro’s latest feature packs in huge amounts of detail, talking to multiple figures with passion for the topics covered in a short space of time; while still making the film accessible and engaging. Throughout we follow the story of the rise of Nike trainers and their use of basketball to advertise themselves, particularly the iconic figure of Michael Jordan – and the brand deals that they had with him. Information is packed in and yet still easy to follow, thanks to the simplistic style of the documentary and the setting and basis of each interview, quickly forming and telling a gradual narrative that’s simple to follow even for those not the most interested in either basketball or shoes, a category which I fall into.

What makes the film so engaging is the level of passion that emits from the people at the centre of it. From basketball fans and historians to former Nike and advertising/ PR heads and workers, and even just shoe collectors, there’s care and knowledge for the subject from everyone involved. The way they speak about the subjects and the topic, how much they love what they’re describing simply brings you in as you want to see the story unfold and know about the connection between, at one point newbie basketball player, Michael Jordan and one of the biggest shoe brands in the world. At one point an interviewee says in relation to a specific pair of shoes, and Jordan, “It’s more than just the shoes. It’s what he did as a basketball player in those shoes that means a lot to me”. You see a personal side to these stories and the impact that the events in the film had on people, adding to your engagement.

The film doesn’t just shower praise onto the Nike, Air Jordan’s and the titular figurehead of the shoes, however. In the final 15-20 minutes the film does begin to lean into tragedies related to the shoes. Bringing in hints of emotion with them and helping to avoid the feeling of a hagiography. However, with what has to be said about such points and how briefly they seem to be discussed, in relation to the rest of the film’s topics; including Spike Lee directed adverts for Air Jordan’s, such ideas do create a sort of tonal shift. While they’re fairly effective and work well in comparison to what has happened before there’s a definite, almost immediate, shift in tone. Thoughts do begin to enter the mind as to why this wasn’t the main point of the film, or at least discussed earlier on, it does feel the most relevant and timely point that the film makes, when the idea of deaths of children and teenagers in relation to the shoes does seem important and not something to breeze over – something which the film might only just avoid.

But, with that aside the core of the film still remains intact. One featuring many people overflowing with passion for the subject matter, unpicking and reliving certain details allowing them to hold a sense of nostalgia and happily tell the camera their thoughts and memories, while still keeping an informing and engaging feature. It’s precisely this that hooks you and draws you in, even if you have no initial interest in the subject matter. For the most part the film is interesting and engaging, told in a way that keeps this feel and interest throughout the short run-time of the film. There may be the tonal shift towards the end to something that could be dwelled on a bit more than it is, but for the most part this is a well-made, engaging documentary that works because the people involved know what they’re talking about and care greatly about the subject matter.

While the final stages of One Man And His Shoes feel a bit rushed and aside from the rest of the film what comes before is an engaging, passionate and thorough look through the relationship between PR, shoes and basketball, even for those with no initial interest in the subject matters.