“Queen & Slim” has been one of 2019’s most hotly anticipated films since the project was first announced. The romantic thriller about star-crossed lovers marks Melina Matsoukas’ feature directorial debut, and she wants to make it clear that the film offers a fresh perspective. When details about “Queen & Slim” emerged, it was described as a “Bonnie and Clyde”-like story. Matsoukas didn’t mince her words when asked about the comparisons.
“It’s a diminishing way to describe our film, and a lazy way to understand it,” she emphasized. “I don’t like basing black films on any white archetype. Bonnie and Clyde were criminals; Queen and Slim are very much not. They are two people that are brought together by this shared experience and they are fighting for their lives. And they fall in love throughout the story. It is a very singular experience.”
“Queen & Slim” sees a black couple going on an ill-fated date. Queen (Jodie Turner-Smith, “Nightflyers”) and Slim (Daniel Kaluuya, “Get Out”) are pulled over by a cop for a minor traffic infraction, and when the police officer pulls a gun on the pair, they kill him in self-defense.
Matsoukas, who has over half a dozen episodes HBO’s Issa Rae-starrer “Insecure” under her belt and Grammy Awards for Rihanna’s “We Found Love” and Beyoncé’s “Formation” music videos, also sounded off on what it’s like to be a black woman directing in Hollywood in 2019.
“We’re kicking the doors down and we’re making people pay attention,” the helmer said. “I think everybody wants to be a part of pushing the culture forward and creating change. We’re making strides and supporting each other. We’re making it difficult for people to ignore us.”
Matsoukas went on address “a big part of problem” in conversations about diversity — the topic only comes up when it’s “people like [her].” She explained, “It’s unfair to put that burden on other people of color. It needs to be a pattern that takes place within every studio and every crew and every film set and every TV set. It shouldn’t only be on people of color to hire people of color.” It’s important that allies engage in this dialogue as well — and effect change.
“Queen & Slim” hits theaters November 27.
