*Universal Pictures released a new trailer for the Lena Waithe written and produced drama “Queen & Slim” — in theaters Thanksgiving weekend on Nov. 27.
Directed by two-time Grammy award winner Melina Matsoukas, the drama centers on a black man (“Get Out’s” Daniel Kaluuya) and a black woman (Jodie Turner-Smith), who are pulled over for a minor traffic infraction. The situation escalates with tragic results when the man kills the police officer in self-defense. “Terrified and in fear for their lives, the man, a retail employee, and the woman, a criminal defense lawyer, are forced to go on the run. But the incident is captured on video and goes viral, and the couple unwittingly become a symbol of trauma, terror, grief and pain for people across the country,” according to the official press release.
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.@QueenAndSlim world premiere to open #AFIFEST 2019. AFI alumna @melinamatsoukas‘s directorial debut will launch the 33rd edition of the festival on Nov. 14. https://t.co/cTW1I3YK2S pic.twitter.com/mJxtOd0gXz
— AFI FEST (@AFIFEST) August 27, 2019
“Queen & Slim” is a powerful, consciousness-raising love story that confronts the staggering human toll of racism and the life-shattering price of violence.
Waithe previously noted that she understands why some might compare the film to cinematic classics such as “Bonnie & Clyde” or “Thelma & Louise,” but she had a different cult classic in mind when she penned “Queen & Slim.”
“It’s such a huge compliment. Bonnie & Clyde changed the conversation. Thelma & Louise is iconic. But the thing that they aren’t realizing is another reference for me would be Set It Off. In terms of black people being at a very difficult place with their back being against the wall and nothing that they [can] do [but] to keep going,” she said.
“Queen is more like the militant,” said Smith during an interview while filming the crime drama. “She has structured her whole life around this fight to seeing what is happening to black men and black women. Just how the criminal justice system is really kind of structured, a lot of times it’s about people not having access to good attorneys or having the money to sort of navigate the system because essentially that’s what it’s sort turned to,” she explained of her character.
“In America, wealth helps you to navigate the system; how many brothers and sisters are in prison or in jail just because they can’t afford bail? How often are people forced to sort of take a plea deal? Queen is more of like an Angela Davis kind of character, you know what I mean?,” Smith added.
Scroll up and peep the new trailer above.
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