''Alex Wheatle'' is a 2020

historical drama film A historical drama (also period drama, period piece or just period) is a dramatic work set in the past, usually used in the context of film and television, which presents historical events and characters with varying degrees of fiction such as c ...

directed by

Steve McQueen Terrence Stephen McQueen (March 24, 1930November 7, 1980) was an American actor. His antihero persona, emphasized during the height of counterculture of the 1960s, 1960s counterculture, made him a top box office draw for his films of the late ...

and co-written by McQueen and Alastair Siddons. It stars Sheyi Cole as

Alex Wheatle Alex Alphonso Wheatle MBE (3 January 1963 – 16 March 2025) was a British novelist, who was sentenced to a term of imprisonment after the 1981 Brixton riot in London. Life and career Born on 3 January 1963 in London, to Jamaican parents, Wh ...

, 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 BBC One is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It is the corporation's oldest and flagship channel, and is known for broadcasting mainstream programming, which includes BBC News television b ...

on 6 December 2020 and on

Amazon Prime Video Amazon Prime Video, known simply as Prime Video, is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming television service owned by Amazon. The service primarily distributes films and television series produced or co-produced by ...

on 11 December 2020.

Plot

After enduring a childhood in a predominantly white

foster home Foster care is a system in which a underage, minor has been placed into a ward (law), ward, group home (Residential Child Care Community, residential child care community or treatment centre), or private home of a state-certified caregiver, ref ...

devoid of love or familial bonds, Alex Wheatle, a young

Black Black is a color that results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without chroma, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness.Eva Heller, ''P ...

man, finds himself in

Brixton Brixton is an area of South London, part of the London Borough of Lambeth, England. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London. Brixton experienced a rapid rise in population during the 19th century ...

. 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.

Cast

* Sheyi Cole as

** Asad-Shareef Muhammad as Young Alex Wheatle *

Robbie Gee Robbie Gee (born 24 March 1970) is a British actor, best known for his '' Desmond's'' character Lee Stanley, for appearing in Guy Ritchie's crime caper '' Snatch'', and for his comedy roles in TV series like '' The Real McCoy'' and '' The Crou ...

as Simeon * Johann Myers as Cutlass Rankin * Jonathan Jules as Dennis Isaacs * Elliot Edusah as Valin * Khali Best as Badger * Fumilayo Brown-Olateju as Dawn * Dexter Flanders as Floyd

Reception

References

External links

* 2020 films 2020 television films 2020s historical drama films 2020 drama films British historical drama films 2020s English-language films 2020s British films Films directed by Steve McQueen English-language historical drama films {{2020s-UK-film-stub