Small Island (Film)

Small Island was humorous and retains aspects of Andrea Levy's novel quite well. The acting talent of David Oyelowo and Benedict Cumberbatch certainly helped. The actress who played Hortense is the very same woman who played the mother of Irie in the White Teeth miniseries. Unfortunately, the movie omitted the colorism of Hortense's Jamaican background and omitted numerous aspects of Hortense and Gilbert's Jamaican background. The film succeeds excellently in criticizing the incredible xenophobia and racism against the Windrush West Indians in London, but could've benefited from a miniseries format instead of a two-part film.

London Is the Place For Me

Classic calypso sounds from the legendary Lord Kitchener! Despite its praise for London and the 'mother country,' Kitchener and other West Indians who moved to London in the postwar years quickly learned how racist English society was. In this sense, this lovely song is useful accompaniment to Selvon's classic, The Lonely Londoners. For those interested in Lord Kitchener, there is an interesting BBC radio documentary on his life and music.