Creators:
Steve McQueenDirected by:
Steve McQueenCinematography:
Shabier KirchnerComposer:
Mica LeviCast:
Thomas Coombes, Gershwyn Eustache Jnr, Malachi Kirby, Jodhi May, Shaun Parkes, Rochenda Sandall, Letitia Wright, John Boyega, Nigel Boyle, Gary Beadle (more)Episodes(5)
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Mangrove (E01)
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Lovers Rock (E02)
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Red, White and Blue (E03)
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Alex Wheatle (E04)
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Education (E05)
Plots(1)
Created and directed by Oscar-winning director Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave), the anthology series Small Axe tells personal stories about London's West Indian community from the late-1960's to mid-1980's. The title is derived from a Jamaican proverb which has resonance throughout the Caribbean, "if you are the big tree, we are the small axe". Small Axe is also the title of a Bob Marley song from The Wailers' 1973 album Burnin'. It means that relatively marginal or small voices of dissent can successfully challenge more powerful voices. Steve McQueen says: "I felt these stories needed to be shared. I wanted to re-live, re-evaluate and investigate the journeys that my parents and the first generation of West Indians went on to deliver me here today calling myself a Black British person." (HBO Europe)
(more)Gallery (39)
Red, White and Blue (E03)
Photo © BBC
![Small Axe - Red, White and Blue - Photos](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w663/files/images/film/photos/165/020/165020203_948956.jpg)
Alex Wheatle (E04)
Photo © BBC
![Small Axe - Alex Wheatle - Photos](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w663/files/images/film/photos/165/033/165033593_96f4af.jpg)
Alex Wheatle (E04)
Photo © BBC
![Small Axe - Alex Wheatle - Photos](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w663/files/images/film/photos/165/033/165033592_32a30f.jpg)
Alex Wheatle (E04)
Photo © BBC
![Small Axe - Alex Wheatle - Photos](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w663/files/images/film/photos/165/033/165033594_9d771a.jpg)
Alex Wheatle (E04)
Photo © BBC
![Small Axe - Alex Wheatle - Photos](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w663/files/images/film/photos/165/033/165033595_945d85.jpg)
Alex Wheatle (E04)
Photo © BBC
![Small Axe - Alex Wheatle - Photos](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w663/files/images/film/photos/165/033/165033596_bad1b2.jpg)
Education (E05)
Photo © BBC
![Small Axe - Education - Photos](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w663/files/images/film/photos/165/049/165049168_2c5c81.jpg)
Education (E05)
Photo © BBC
![Small Axe - Education - Photos](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w663/files/images/film/photos/165/049/165049169_f73523.jpg)
Education (E05)
Photo © BBC
![Small Axe - Education - Photos](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w663/files/images/film/photos/165/049/165049171_34ffc3.jpg)
Education (E05)
Photo © BBC
![Small Axe - Education - Photos](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w663/files/images/film/photos/165/049/165049172_f9e608.jpg)