Queen & Slim is much more than just another fugitive film

Melina Matsoukas's Queen & Slim (2019) is on the surface another fugitive film - a direct descendant of Bonnie and Clyde - and it may remind some, as it reminded me, of the Australian series Wanted, about two women, neither w/ a record and character opposites, forced into a cross-country (and cross-ocean) flight from police pursuit. But what sets Q&S apart from the many other films in this mini-genre is its political awareness and of-the-moment topicality. In short, this film is about an African-American couple on their first date, and seeming to be polar opposites (she, a career-conscious criminal-defense lawyer and he a more laid-back and aimless but sweet guy), who get stopped by a racist cop with fatal consequences, sending them on the run, from Cleveland to New Orleans (where her uncle lives) and beyond. In the course of their flight they become nationwide figures and for man (but not all) blacks a symbol of resistance to police brutality and figureheads for the Black Lives Matter movement. One of the man strengths of this film is ambiguity of Lena Waithe's screenplay: the fleeing couple (Daniel Kaluuya and Jodie Turner-Smith) find both support and antagonist; some of the white people they meet are helpful and sympathetic, others not; ditto, for the black people they come across. The film is nicely paced, holding everyone's interest right to the end I would think, and quite beautiful photographed and designed, and even gets props for an original score (Devonte Hynes), combining classical and avant-garde tonalities. For all its familiarity, as well as some required suspension of disbelief (is such an escape really possible?), the film is quite compelling as a drama and, in the end, moving and provocative as well.