DRUGGY DRAMA
Queen & Slim
Melina Matsoukas’ film couldn’t be more timely. Queen (Jodie Turner-Smith) and Slim (Daniel Kalluya) are out on a first date when a white officer pulls them over for a traffic violation. They challenge the cop, who then shoots Queen in the leg and Slim retaliates. Next thing they’re on the run, heading South from Ohio with a plan to flee to Cuba. Police release mug shots and a video, making the duo famous. They seek support and shelter and are treated like heroes until the dragnet closes in on them. In one of the last scenes, they smoke a joint with a cab driver. Queen and Slim represent all of the black people who have been treated badly by police and whose lives are seen as less important than others. They’re a compelling couple who ended up on the wrong side of the law. Prime
