Mangrove

Yes, Mangrove is based on the true story of the Mangrove Nine, a group of British Black activists who were tried for inciting a riot at the Notting Hill Carnival in 1970. The police had repeatedly raided the Mangrove, a popular Caribbean restaurant in London, until the owners organized a protest that ended in violent clashes. Directed by Steve McQueen, the film accurately details the systemic racism the group fought against in the British justice system.

The 2020 film stars acclaimed British actor Letitia Wright as Altheia Jones-LeCointe, one of the key leaders of the Mangrove Nine. It also features Shaun Parkes as Frank Crichlow, the owner of the Mangrove restaurant, alongside Malachi Kirby. The ensemble cast was widely praised for bringing the heavy historical drama to life.

Yes, Mangrove is the first film in the Small Axe anthology series, a collection of five original films directed by Steve McQueen for the BBC. The series, released in 2020, tells distinct stories about the lives of West Indian immigrants in London from the 1960s to the 1980s. Mangrove sets the legal and historical tone for the rest of the anthology.

Yes, Mangrove and the wider Small Axe series won the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Picture in 2020. The film also opened the 58th New York Film Festival, a rare honor for a television movie. Letitia Wright specifically received a BAFTA nomination for her leading performance in the courtroom drama.