“I think everything is destined.”- Slim
Recently I screened Queen and Slim, and can I tell you this movie was black, beautiful, and so necessary. In short the movie is about a first date which goes horribly wrong, and somehow turns tragically beautiful. A black man (Get Out’s Daniel Kaluuya) and a black woman (Jodie Turner-Smith, in her first starring feature-film role), from Ohio are pulled over for a minor traffic infraction, which goes left. As with all things, the incident was captured on cell phone and has since went viral. The two decide to run in fear of their lives and travel across country in hopes to figure out what’s next. The couple is now considered the new “Bonnie and Clyde” or “Cop killers”, with no idea what’s in store for them.
Meet Queen & Slim.
Queen a criminal defense attorney is a complex character. She appears composed, but with a temper and her disdain for Slim is evident when she looks at him. Slim is her polar opposite, he’s a retail worker but cool, calm, and laid-back and family oriented. In one split decision the unlikely pair will forever be united but a night of unfortunate events.
The two now on the run for the lives decide to drive to Louisiana and figure out a plan there. It’s during this cross country drive that two strangers become one.
Black:
It was something about the way the film was shot that just exudes melanin magic. There was a sexy undertone to it, despite the desperation of the characters just trying to live to see another day. The colors popped off of the screen from their brown skin, to the colorful clothing, and beautiful country landscapes.
Black is for the continued struggle of the people. Lena Waithe does a phenomenal job of making this a story that can be any black person, anywhere USA. The story is fictional, but based on events taking place across the country daily. One time for the Sandra Blands, Philando Castiles, and Eric Garners of the world.
The narrative of black and blue tensions continue to increase as we lose our brothers and sisters to “routine” stops. For my non-melanated counterparts who may be reading this, please understand the flashing lights in our rearview causes real anxiety. Often times we don’t know if our loved ones will make it home from those stops or what humiliating ordeal they had to experience. There are Black people who suffer from PTSD from law enforcement.
Beautiful:
Written by Emmy Award winning screenwriter, producer, and actor Lena Waithe and directed by music video veteran Melina Matsoukas created cinematic beauty.
Beautiful is how Slim listens to the things that are not being said and reading in between the lines of a woman who has seen and had her share of heart break and let downs. The beauty of a black couple being vulnerable with one another is a narrative we need more of.
“I want a guy to show me myself. I want him to love me so deeply, I’m not afraid to show him how ugly I can be.”
Necessary:
This is a film that will not give you answers on how to make things better. Queen & Slim asks us to honor those who have fallen, but also to consider our own legacies. There are so many layers and underlying themes within this film. The obvious being the complicated love of black men and women, the racial undertones of what our children face daily, along with the ongoing love hate relationships of people of color and America.
Without spoiling the film, please go to your local theater on Thanksgiving and go see Queen & Slim!
Genre: Drama
Cast: Daniel Kaluuya, Jodie Turner-Smith, Bokeem Woodbine, Chloë Sevigny, Flea, John Sturgill Simpson, Indya Moore
Director: Melina Matsoukas
Screenplay by: Lena Waithe
Story by: James Frey, Lena Waithe
Producers: James Frey, Lena Waithe, Melina Matsoukas,
Michelle Knudsen, Andrew Coles, Brad Weston, Pamela Abdy
Executive Producers: Pamela Hirsch, Daniel Kaluuya, Aaron L. Gilbert, Jason Cloth, Reginald Cash, Angelo Pullen, David Krintzman, Guymon Casady