From Fruitvale Station to Blindspotting, American cinema has dared to tackle the sensitive issue of police misconduct in recent years. But there is one that is a little different. It’s about Queen & Slim, which begins with a confrontation with a policeman, which turns into a drama to tell a love story.
Music video director Melina Matsukas — who notably helmed Beyoncé’s “Formation” music video — will make her first feature film for cinema here from a script by Lena Waithe. The story follows the duo Queen (Jodie Turner-Smith) and Slim (Daniel Kaluuya) who embark on a hellish run across the United States, in the same spirit as Thelma and Louise, from which the film is very directly inspired.
Besides being an unconventional love story, Queen & Slim is also – but not only – a work with real social relevance. The film begins on a cold night in Cincinnati between Quinn and Slim – the characters are not named until the end of the film – who go on their first Tinder date.
On their way back, they are stopped by the police for a minor traffic violation, but the situation quickly escalates. After a police officer shoots Queen in the leg when she asserts her status as a lawyer and the officer’s abuse of power, Slim rushes to her defense. A shot is heard and the policeman dies.
The frightened ones immediately decide to run away. And they travel to the New Orleans home of Earl (Bokeham Woodbine), Slim’s uncle, to hang out and decide what to do next. But when footage of their incident goes viral, Queen & Slim go from being labeled as “cop killers” to symbols of black Americans, who have a long history of being victims of police misconduct.
The film starts almost as a romantic comedy about two completely incompatible people when they meet. The queen is an uptight and atheist lawyer. Slim is quite outgoing, works at the cash register and prays before every meal.
Under Lena Waithe’s pen, we recognize the same humor, subtly expressed with small touches, that we found in the series of Master of None, which she co-wrote, and especially in the Thanksgiving episode, for which she received an Emmy Award. . By adopting a crude comedy tone with the idea of two people who barely know each other becoming fugitives together, the film manages to ground Quinn and Slim’s struggles in a way that a more poetic approach could not.
Daniel Kaluuya and Jodie Turner-Smith
But of course, the film takes a more serious tone when it comes to police brutality and the pain and suffering it inflicts on African Americans. Lena Waithe’s writing is never unhappy, on the contrary, it is both intellectual and subversive. In addition to his writing, the performances of Jodie Turner-Smith and Daniel Kaluuya really bring out the humanity of the characters. Kaluuya is once again impressive in the skin of Slim. And Turner-Smith, slowly lowering her guard, gradually establishes herself as a queen.
Stylistically, the film fits firmly into black culture with its soundtrack and set pieces. It also offers a rich and often poetic view of rural America today, especially one where traumatic reminders of the past are over-represented.
Queen & Slim adheres to the conventions of the “outlaw” genre, while breathing new life into these tropes and approaching them from a different angle. We keep the story tender – if we skip the conclusion – about love told with sensitivity in dangerous times.
Queen & Slim leaves the Netflix catalog on August 23.
Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
