Melina Matsoukas and Lena Waithe have created a masterpiece with Queen and Slim. The movie follows a couple that gets pulled over by the police after their first date and have to defend themselves against a crooked cop intent on killing innocent black people.
Throughout the decade there has been a surge of police brutality or rather there has been more visibility around it with the use of smart phones. This film was a commentary on how it affects the nation and the people involved. Queen and Slim travel the country in hopes of reaching Cuba to gain their freedom because although they they are guilty in killing the cop, it was for self defense and they know the narrative will not be in their favor. They both encounter all sorts of people. Some of these people support their journey while others don’t agree with the path they have chosen. A path that wasn’t really their choice to begin with. They weren’t at the wrong place at the wrong time. They weren’t causing trouble. They were victims of an unjust system and a sick individual.
Waithe and Matsoukas convey that the issues within our country go deeper than race. On their road trip, Queen and Slim encounter black people that disagree with them running and killing the police because they think it gives them even more reason to shoot us. They even encounter a white cop who seems like a good man, but they can’t risk taking his help. Then, there’s the black cop that tries to calmly deescalate the riot and is shot. Police brutality isn’t as simple as cops versus black people or white people versus black people. It’s a societal problem that stems from individual experiences and beliefs. Once we realize that and start to have conversations about it, then maybe we can progress as a society.
The film shows the back roads of America while they drive from Ohio to Florida. The editing is amazing because it cuts to different areas to the beat of the music and makes the road scenes more interesting. Since most of the film involves driving, the transitions keep the audience’s attention. Also, the musical choice transcends generations. I watched the film with my mom and at some points I would dance in my seat and sing along. At other points, she would be the one dancing and vibing.
Queen and Slim can be juxtaposed against a slave movie where slaves travel North to freedom and have no time to be carefree because they are on foot and the dogs are right behind them. In this film, they travel South to freedom and even though the entire country is looking for them, they still manage to make pit stops and gain life experiences while also falling in love with each other. They also travel in style. It is as if their life is compressed into a few days because they don’t know when it will end. Slave movies can be triggering and traumatic, but this film felt truly liberating.
I also loved how the film talked about leaving behind a legacy because nowadays everything is recorded with social media. If you don’t post a pic, can you say that you really did anything with your life? The film shows the importance of connecting with others and how these connections will become our legacy. Their legacy was kept by the black community through a mural.
Queen and Slim takes you on a trip of life and love. I recommend it for everybody.
