An emotional narrative that embodies police brutality and racism in a beautiful tragedy. We are introduced to the protagonists, as two strangers who meet through a dating app. This swiftly takes a left turn, when they kill a police officer to prevent becoming another statistic.
Plot
This runaway journey captured the beauty in the simple things that we often take for granted like:
Scenery | new experiences | memories | relationships
Queen & Slim epitomized “living the day as if it was your last”, as the characters were fully aware that it would be soon. I refer to Queen and Slim as the black Bonny and Clyde, with the “I’m tired of playing it safe” mentality, encouraging the “I want to ride or die” (Slim) lifestyle. Instantly the strangers became each other’s last hope of freedom. This was their destiny, “you was meant to be here” (Queen).
Experience
I observed a love blossom out of an inconvenient circumstance. This made it harder to swallow (SPOILER ALERT) their death. The director sold me on a dream that black people can have freedom and uplift each other. Sadly instead, it ended with the harsh reality of black-on-black betrayal to reach the top. It displayed the extent of greediness to the point where we will sacrifice one of our own, to fulfill a temporary desire. I remember sitting in the cinema processing everything. Left speechless, I struggled to leave my seat. The core message hit me deeply and I hope this narrative will change in the future. It is not fair that all we have to show as black people is our trauma. Black people can be happy too, let us explore and profit off that too?
Rating
9/10
Recommend
I would only recommend it to people who like slow burners and prefer to take in the moments. It’s not action-based for anyone who wants to be holding to the edge of their seat.
Reviewed by Ozioma Ihesiene
Featured image is from Vanity Fair and second image is from Time Out
