NEW YORK ā In a movie year mostly lacking big, ambitious releases, Steve McQueenās āSmall Axeā anthology is an unqualified main event.
For the filmmaker of āHunger,ā āShameā and āWidows,ā āSmall Axeā is a shattering masterwork ā a compendium, both damning and celebratory, of Black resilience.
The only fictional tale of the bunch, it brings to vivid, pulsating life a blues party from 1980, when young London Black people found refuge, and love, at house parties.
Casting āSmall Axe,ā he has said, was easy because of all the untapped talent just in need of an opportunity.
But if anyone expecting a neat arc to āSmall Axe,ā McQueen says thatās not its shape.