By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4 cats
Director: Steve McQueen
Starring: Aiyana Goodfellow | Daniel Francis | Jairaj Varsani | Josette Simon | Kenyah Sandy | Naomi Ackie | Ryan Masher | Sharlene Whyte | Tamara Lawrance
Country: united_kingdom
Year: 2020
Running time: 63
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10551106/reference
Part of the Small Axe Amazon Prime series.
Michael says: “Steve McQueen makes a fairly notable change in the fifth film of his SMALL AXE series, focusing on a 12-year-old boy, and surrounding him largely with women. The shift in tone and energy is notable, and for me, most welcome. Don’t get me wrong, EDUCATION is still about the oppression of black culture by the white system in Britain, and there’s plenty of rage to go around, but this rage isn’t spent by violence, or shouting incoherently, but with action. Kingsley, our young protagonist in question, is identified in hit class as having trouble reading. He selected by his headmaster to attend Durrant’s, a ‘special school’ and informs Kingsley’s mother, Agnes, that there Kingsley will get the attention he needs in smaller class-sizes. These special schools are so important they will even buy Kingsley from his current school to Durrant’s each day. This is the first of many lies Agnes is told about this school, which is actually for the “educationally subnormal” and appears to be a pipeline from school to prison, where nothing is really taught, and only the most menial of jobs seem attainable to graduates. Fortunately, there’s a movement afoot to reform the educational system in London, and Agnes is found by its local leader. The film shifts to one of optimism… subdued, but very present, and leaves SMALL AXE looking forward in a positive way.
“The women in EDUCATION provide a nice counterpoint to all the male aggression in three of the first four films. Sharlene Whyte’s Agnes embodies the hard-working black matriarch, working two jobs, and providing meals that go uneaten, and a clean home to a husband and kids who barely notice. It’s no wonder when she cruelly lashes out at Kingsley when his behavior brings trouble to the home. But when the true plight her son finds herself in is revealed, Agne’s true fires col forth along with the fierce protective love of her son. Kinsgley’s older sister Stephanie, played by Tamara Lawrance, is protective of her younger brother, and stands up for him against their parents, keeping an eye on his welfare during his struggles at school. Then there are the two women who find Kingsley and help to liberate him. Lydia, a former politician who leads the charge on education reform, carries herself with the intelligence and dignity that open doors for her, and it’s no surprise to find that actor Josette Simon appeared as Mnemosyne, one of the Amazons in WONDER WOMAN. Finally, Hazel, who entered Durrant’s on false pretenses solely to discover the evidence needed to prove that the children are being neglected and not being helped educationally in any way. Naomi Ackie is in production for the film I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY where she will play Whitney Houston. After seeing her all portrayal of Hazel, I can see it. Of course, the film relies on the portrayal of young Kingsley, and Knehay Sandy makes for a charismatic and compelling young lead. His love of the stars and ignored aptitude for math bring a glow to his face during the rare glimpses we see, while the malaise that settles over him when he thinks he is lost fo the machinations of the system is palpable. The shortest of the five films, perhaps it takes a few shortcuts to make its point, which undercuts the overall arc slightly, but it’s still a powerful piece, and fitting conclusion to this important work of a filmmaker. 4 cats“
