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Small Axe
S1.E4
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IMDbPro

Alex Wheatle

  • Episode aired Dec 11, 2020
  • TV-MATV-MA
  • 1h 6m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
2.4K
YOUR RATING
Alex Wheatle (2020)
"If you are the big tree, we are the small axe." -Jamaican proverb. 'Alex Wheatle' is the fourth in a collection of five films by Steve McQueen inspired by real-life events about ordinary people showing courage, belief, and resilience to overcome injustice and achieve something transformative in their West Indian community. 'Alex Wheatle' comes to Prime Video on 12/11.
Play trailer0:30
4 Videos
4 Photos
DramaHistory
Alex Wheatle follows the true story of award-winning writer, Alex Wheatle (Sheyi Cole), from a young boy through his early adult years. Having spent his childhood in a mostly white instituti... Read allAlex Wheatle follows the true story of award-winning writer, Alex Wheatle (Sheyi Cole), from a young boy through his early adult years. Having spent his childhood in a mostly white institutional care home with no love or family, he finally finds not only a sense of community for ... Read allAlex Wheatle follows the true story of award-winning writer, Alex Wheatle (Sheyi Cole), from a young boy through his early adult years. Having spent his childhood in a mostly white institutional care home with no love or family, he finally finds not only a sense of community for the first time in Brixton, but his identity and ability to grow his passion for music and ... Read all
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
2.4K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Steve McQueen
  • Writers
    • Alastair Siddons(screenplay by)
    • Steve McQueen(screenplay by)
    • Rebecca Lenkiewicz(lead writer)
  • Stars
    • Khali Best
    • Fumilayo Brown-Olateju
    • Riley Burgin
  • Director
    • Steve McQueen
  • Writers
    • Alastair Siddons(screenplay by)
    • Steve McQueen(screenplay by)
    • Rebecca Lenkiewicz(lead writer)
  • Stars
    • Khali Best
    • Fumilayo Brown-Olateju
    • Riley Burgin
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 13User reviews
    • 24Critic reviews
    • 77Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos4

    Small Axe: Christmas
    Clip 1:54
    Watch Small Axe: Christmas
    Small Axe: Inside Alex Wheatle
    Clip 3:27
    Watch Small Axe: Inside Alex Wheatle
    "Alex Wheatle" Trailer
    Trailer 0:30
    Watch "Alex Wheatle" Trailer
    Small Axe: Alex Wheatle
    Trailer 0:29
    Watch Small Axe: Alex Wheatle

    Photos

    Sheyi Cole in Alex Wheatle (2020)
    Sheyi Cole in Alex Wheatle (2020)
    Alex Wheatle (2020)
    Add photo

    Top cast

    Edit
    Khali Best
    Khali Best
    • Breadstick
    Fumilayo Brown-Olateju
    • Dawn
    • (as Fumilayo Brown-Olatej)
    Riley Burgin
    • Terry
    Ross Cahill
    • Perry
    Sheyi Cole
    Sheyi Cole
    • Alex Wheatle
    Zakiyyah Deen
    • Rita
    Elliot Edusah
    • Valin
    Dexter Flanders
    • Floyd
    Robbie Gee
    Robbie Gee
    • Simeon
    Jonathan Jules
    Jonathan Jules
    • Dennis Isaacs
    Ashley McGuire
    Ashley McGuire
    • Cook
    • (as Ashley Maguire)
    Asad-Shareef Muhammad
    • Young Alex
    Johann Myers
    Johann Myers
    • Cutlass Rankin
    Cecilia Noble
    • Mrs Isaacs
    Louis J Rhone
    • Rankin's Dread
    • (as Louis j Rhone)
    Xavien Russell
    • Friend at Lincoln's
    Lennox Tuitt
    • Lincoln
    Leah Walker
    • Beverley
    • Director
      • Steve McQueen
    • Writers
      • Alastair Siddons(screenplay by)
      • Steve McQueen(screenplay by)
      • Rebecca Lenkiewicz(lead writer) (writers room)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      One of Alex Wheatle's own sons worked with the production design team. At one point, he called his father to tell him "Dad, I'm prepping your bedroom for younger Alex. It's fucked up."
    • Goofs
      The voiceover reading Wheatle's file gives his name as "Alec Alphonso Wheatle." His first name is Alex, not Alec.
    • Quotes

      Alex Wheatle: [confused about being called African by a couple of Brixtonians] I'm from Surrey.

    • Connections
      References Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)
    • Soundtracks
      Satta Massagana
      (uncredited)

      Written by Bernard Collins, Donald Manning and Lynford Manning

      Performed by The Abyssinians

    User reviews13

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    6/10
    Not as strong as other episodes, but still worth a watch
    I've never really reviewed many tv productions in the past, but the Small Axe series are worthy of a movie release. The episodes are directed by Steve McQueen and they focus on the West Indian community in the late 20th century.

    The Alex Wheatle episode highlights the struggles that Alex faces in prison via flash backs to his early life and how he came to be prosecuted. The issues that are confronted seem very realistic to me although I have a feeling that some of the characters are less scary on film than they would be in real life.
    helpful•0
    1
    • agmoldham
    • Dec 21, 2020

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 11, 2020 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Official site
      • BBC Programmes
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • Canterbury Prison, Canterbury, Kent, England, UK(prison location)
    • Production companies
      • BBC Films
      • British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
      • Turbine Studios
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 6 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.00 : 1

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