I usually do not write reviews of plays or movies while I am still trying to process them. However, in the case of “Queen & Slim,” I feel compelled to put words on the page to help me process the visually stunning work of art I recently experienced.
Most people were first introduced to the film by the incredibly stunning poster for the movie. Andre Wagner shot this haunting and inviting photograph, which sets the tone and excitement for the film to come. For those of you not familiar with Wagner’s work, get on it. You may recognize his iconic signature black and white photographs in The New York Times, where he captures the essence of Black life in New York City and most recently in communities across the United States. The black and white picture of the two main characters sitting on a 1970s car is just short of breathtaking. The male lead is wearing a velour track suit and the female lead is wearing a zebra style mini dress and snake skin boots. The outfits are captivating, but what is spellbinding is the chemistry—the fear, love, isolation, resilience, and courage—captured in just one shot of two people sitting on a car.
There have been several pieces written and debates waged about the relationship of the two main characters, the idea of a modern day underground railroad, the debates surrounding policing of Black communities, and whether the movie is visually stunning without substance to back it up. Without giving too much away, I will say the reintroduction of Bokeem Woodbine as Uncle Earl may have been one of my favorite aspects of the film. Woodbine’s character runs a house of ill repute in Louisiana, but more importantly, Uncle Earl is a veteran. He has seen things, he has done bad things, and he continues to grapple with his demons, many of which were birthed during his time in the military, when he was property of the U.S. government.
As Queen and Slim travel throughout the U.S. south and pass fields of horses, dilapidated houses, incarcerated prisoners picking in the fields, and the overall stunning environmental beauty that comprises this nation, I found myself constantly thinking of Uncle Earl and his journey, his personal prison, his fears, his courage, and his reliance on his own underworld to survive. There are so many veterans who have returned home and are expected to forget what they have seen, possibly what they have done, and incorporate themselves seamlessly back into society. In so many ways, “Queen & Slim” was an acknowledgment of our veterans and the various ways they attempt to become whole once they return home.
This film is worth seeing for the simple fact that this vast nation, and all of the people in it, have a story to tell, we just need to listen.
Christina Greer, Ph.D., is an associate professor at Fordham University, the author of “Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream,” and the co-host of the new podcast FAQ-NYC.