Steve McQueen has provided an insight into the institutional racism that was commonly faced by the West Indian community in London in the 1970's which sadly continued and, to an extent, continues far beyond the events portrayed. The Mangrove paints a picture of a community under siege, invited to the UK to fill employment needs after the war, but later resented for their mere presence and desire to create a sense of community.
A film of two parts, the early character development underscores the great diversity of the West Indian community, presenting the common dilemma to stay and to build a future or to leave and accept defeat. Growing up in the UK in the 1970's it's not hard to remember how much that casual racism was the norm, whether in the playground or in the streets. McQueen captures the normality of that and how it facilitated those in authority to act in a way that would now, in general, be seen as wholly unacceptable.
The film will draw obvious comparisons with the recent Chicago 7 film, but for me, this was a far more robust production with better character development and acting and less emphasis on dress up and wigs than Aaron Sorkin's effort. It certainly had a far greater sense of realism, place and time. Comparing the filmed version to the actual events, McQueen has been true to events and to the people involved - something which makes the continued harassment of the people involved for years after the events portrayed even more chilling!