Small Axe is a collection of films from British writer/director Steve McQueen set between the late 1960’s and mid 1980’s that focus on the West Indian community in London. The Small Axe of the title is a proverb made famous by a Bob Marley song, “if you are the big tree, we are the small axe”. 

West London, 1980. Martha (Amarah-Jae St. Aubyn) and Patty (Shaniqua Okwok) are preparing to go to a house party and we will spend the evening with them as they meet new people. 

Lovers Rock is a mood piece. A crude comparison would be Dazed and Confused. It’s simply the story of one evening and the following morning and a night that will be special for one person forever. We see the preparation involved to get the party up and running, the food preparation, the prices of drinks, sofas moved into the garden and the sound system being put together in the now empty lounge. The rest is people mingling and dancing and some minor incidents with dark undertones. 

The pivotal scene and one that sums up the entire film is set to the song “Silly Games” by Janet Kay. We see it bring people to the dance floor and bring people together as they dance and then sing. Music is and always will be something that brings people together. Lovers Rock is a love letter to those brought together by this era’s music.