What it's like being black in America is deftly adapted to the big screen by director Melina Matsoukas in one of my favorite films of the year, QUEEN & SLIM.
The film's logline, "A couple's first date takes an unexpected turn when a police officer pulls them over," alludes to the Bonnie and Clyde narrative.
Daniel Kaluuya plays Slim, and Jodie Turner-Smith portrays Queen, as two reluctant, innocent Americans on the run, who become heroes to standing up for justice and progress, and tragically immortalized in the journey.
Matsoukas's style is strong here. The director behind Beyonce's FORMATION video has an eye for aesthetics and shot composition. She also employs editing flourishes, like elongated L-Cuts, or Voiceover where a conversation would have taken place, to elevate the scene to cerebral heights and a tone of foreboding.
While I wanted them to end up on the beaches of Cuba, like Romeo and Juliet, the fates have a different ending in mind.
This beautiful film reminds me we have a lot of work to do to improve this country and make it better for everyone.
The sooner, the better.
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