Alex Wheatle (film)

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Alex Wheatle
Alex Wheatle 2020 poster.jpg
Publicity poster with still from Alex Wheatle. Note that the actors named at the top appear in other Small Axe films, not this one.
Written bySteve McQueen
Alastair Siddons
Directed by Steve McQueen
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
Production
Running time66 minutes
Original release
Network BBC One
Release6 December 2020 (2020-12-06)

Alex Wheatle is a 2020 historical drama film directed by Steve McQueen and co-written by McQueen and Alastair Siddons. It stars Sheyi Cole as Alex Wheatle, a Black British novelist who was sentenced to a term of imprisonment after the 1981 Brixton uprising. The film was released as part of the anthology series Small Axe on BBC One on 6 December 2020 and on Amazon Prime Video on 11 December 2020. [1]

Contents

Plot

After enduring a childhood in a predominantly white foster home devoid of love or familial bonds, Alex Wheatle, a young Black man, finds himself in Brixton. Here, he not only experiences a sense of community for the first time in his life but also uncovers a profound passion for music. However, Brixton proves to be a tinderbox, and following the three days of unrest in April 1981, he is incarcerated. Yet, within the confines of prison, Alex stumbles upon unexpected opportunities. Encouraged by his fellow inmate Simeon to broaden his horizons, the young man discovers a love for literature and begins to cultivate a certain level of education. [2] [3]

Cast

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 96% of 48 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.4/10.The website's consensus reads: "Sheyi Cole shines in Alex Wheatle, a harrowing biopic that barely scratches the surface of a complex life, but does so with empathy and finesse." [4] Metacritic , which uses a weighted average , assigned the film a score of 77 out of 100, based on 19 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews. [5]

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References

  1. Kanter, Jake (7 October 2020). "'Small Axe': Steve McQueen's Anthology Drama Gets BBC Premiere Date". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  2. Popescu, Lucy (6 December 2020). "Small Axe: Alex Wheatle review". cine-vue.com. Retrieved 4 February 2025.
  3. McCarthy, Todd (29 November 2020). "Film Review: Steve McQueen's 'Alex Wheatle' From 'Small Axe' Anthology". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  4. "Alex Wheatle". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . Retrieved 4 February 2025. OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
  5. "Alex Wheatle". Metacritic . Fandom, Inc. Retrieved 4 February 2025.