What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedSmall Axe
Steve McQueen · Series · 2020
If you loved Small Axe, start with 12 Years a Slave (Steve McQueen, 2013) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to Small Axe across media.
If you loved Small Axe, you clearly appreciate how intimate personal narratives illuminate the broader, often painful, political history of communities.
Books on the same thread
Shuggie Bain
Douglas Stuart · Book · 2020
Shares a thread with Small Axe: Social Realism.
Much like the characters in Small Axe, Shuggie Bain explores the raw, lived reality of outsiders struggling to maintain their dignity and identity within a harsh, unforgiving social environment.
Washington Black
Esi Edugyan · Book · 2018
Explores: Slavery, Scientific Discovery, Identity.
You will find a shared focus on the weight of history and the search for autonomy here, mirroring the way Small Axe examines the struggle for freedom and identity.
Girl, Woman, Other
Bernardine Evaristo · Book · 2019
Shares 2 threads with Small Axe: Immigration, Cultural Identity.
This novel echoes the anthology structure and thematic depth of Small Axe by weaving together the vibrant, complex lives of Black British women navigating their place in modern society.
The Underground Railroad
Colson Whitehead · Book · 2018
Shares a thread with Small Axe: Resistance.
Small Axe captures the urgency of the fight against systemic oppression, a feeling that permeates this narrative as it chronicles a desperate, harrowing quest for freedom and survival.
Films on the same thread
12 Years a Slave
Steve McQueen · Film · 2013
Shares a thread with Small Axe: Historical Drama.
Directed by Steve McQueen, this film shares the unflinching gaze and focus on the endurance of the human spirit found throughout the Small Axe anthology series.
Malcolm X
Spike Lee · Film · 1992
Shares 2 threads with Small Axe: Racial Identity, Historical Drama.
If the political awakening and social justice themes in Small Axe resonated with you, this biographical portrait of a revolutionary leader provides a powerful and necessary historical perspective.
BlacKkKlansman
Spike Lee · Film · 2018
Explores: Racial Injustice, Undercover Operation, Identity.
This film uses a high-stakes undercover operation to interrogate racial dynamics in a way that recalls the sharp, socially conscious storytelling style of the Small Axe anthology.
Shame
Steve McQueen · Film · 2011
Explores: Sex Addiction, Repression, Family Trauma.
This intense character study by Steve McQueen demonstrates the same commitment to exploring family trauma and repressed pain that defined the most poignant moments of Small Axe.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Archers
Podcast
Shares a thread with Small Axe: community.
For those drawn to the community-focused storytelling of Small Axe, this long-running series offers a deep, immersive look at the interconnected lives and evolving relationships within a specific setting.
1619
The New York Times · Podcast · 2019
Explores: systemic racism, national identity, legacy of slavery.
This documentary series deepens your understanding of the systemic issues addressed in Small Axe by tracing the foundational history and lasting legacy of racial injustice in America.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Small Axe a single continuous narrative?
Small Axe is an anthology series consisting of five distinct stories. Each episode functions as an individual narrative exploring the lives of a group of friends and their families within the West Indian community in London during the late 1960s to the early 1980s.
What time period does Small Axe cover?
Small Axe depicts the lives of a group of friends and their families in the West Indian community of London. The anthology series spans the late 1960s through the early 1980s, documenting their experiences across those decades.
Should I watch the five stories in Small Axe in a specific order?
Small Axe is an anthology series featuring five independent stories. Because each installment focuses on different aspects of the lives of friends and families in London's West Indian community, the episodes do not require a specific viewing order to understand the historical context.
How many stories are included in Small Axe?
Small Axe is comprised of five stories. Created by Steve McQueen, the anthology series examines the experiences of a group of friends and their families living within London's West Indian community from the late 1960s to the early 1980s.