Seeking out the
5000 greatest films
in a century of cinema
Lovers Rock
Small Axe: Lovers Rock
Directed by
Steve McQueen
Produced by Anita Overland and Michael Elliott
Screenplay by Steve McQueen and Courttia Newland
Produced by Anita Overland and Michael Elliott
Screenplay by Steve McQueen and Courttia Newland
With:
Amarah-Jae St. Aubyn, Micheal Ward, Kedar Williams-Stirling, Shaniqua Okwok, Ellis George, Francis Lovehall, Daniel Francis-Swaby, Alexander James-Blake, Kadeem Ramsay, Romario Simpson, Jermaine Freeman, Marcus Fraser, Saffron Coomber, Frankie Fox, and Dennis Bovell
Cinematography:
Shabier Kirchner
Editing: Chris Dickens and Steve McQueen
Music: Mica Levi
Editing: Chris Dickens and Steve McQueen
Music: Mica Levi
Runtime:
68 min
Release Date: 28 November 2020
Aspect Ratio: 2.39 : 1
Color: Color
Release Date: 28 November 2020
Aspect Ratio: 2.39 : 1
Color: Color
Small Axe is an anthology film series created, co-written, and directed by Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave, Widows, Shame). Each film tells a story about the lives of West Indian immigrants in London during the 1960s, ‘70s, and ‘80s. Some are based on actual people and events, others are historical fiction.
Twitter Capsule:
Lovers Rock is a minimalist tone-poem about lovers who meet at a reggae dance party in 1980. It captures the tension and release of flirtation, danger, and escapism and proves that McQueen, known for cinematic depictions of extreme human suffering, can reveal just as well in sensuality and joy.