Queen and Slim
Miyah Stewart
Biz of Film- 002
September 6
Queen and Slim is about a young couple who are out on a first date, matched through tinder. On their way home, they are pulled over by a white cop. As calm as the couple were, the cop seemed to get more agitated. An altercation breaks out and it leads to Slim shooting the cop and ending his life. Queen suggests they have no choice but to leave the scene. Feeling like their only resort was to flee the city, they go on this journey in hopes of finding peace and clarity and although the journey was short lived, they find peace and clarity in each other. Directed by Melina Matsoukas, the film stars Daniel Kaluuya, Jodie Turner-Smith, Bokeem Woodbine, Jahi Winston, Indya Moore,and Chloe Sevigny. The word I would use to describe this film is ‘real’. I remember feeling uneasy- the entire time. To some people this was just a very good film. Unfortunately for others it is reality. The movie is reality. “Queen and Slim” represents my culture in a beautiful way that I feel is necessary during this time in modern day society. In reality there is a line that separates beauty and art from politics. In this film, that line becomes very thin and as they merge into one; We are able to find beauty in the simplicity of things. The style of cinematography was very different to me. Tat Radcliffe did an amazing job capturing even the slightest bit of interaction that made the film whole. What I enjoyed most about the film was the editing. It gave off a vibe that I wish I could explain. Even though the series of events leading to them running away in the first place are nothing short of horrific, I had this feeling of serendipity. The very end is what got me. Melina takes us on this journey with people we get to know and love, we are rooting for them and their escape, and then within the blink of an eye everything just ends. There were so many different ways it could have ended however I think this way was very necessary. I cried because it was very real. I can honestly say that a film has never made me cry as much as I did before watching Queen and Slim. It was heartbreaking to see that they felt they had no other choice but to run from the ones that are supposed to be protecting them. One thing that I absolutely adored about the film was the simplicity of it all. So simple, yet nonetheless captivating. The characters compliment each other very well. Queen is lonely and takes pride in being an excellent attorney. Slim is very simple and family-oriented. They compliment each other and at the end we see they were the missing piece in each other’s life.
Biz Of Film 