“Queen & Slim” is a powerful romance crime-drama from the Black criminal justice perspective. 

The lead, Queen, is an attorney played by actress Jodi Turner-Smith with Slim played by actor Daniel Kaluuya. Kaluuya is also known for his stellar performance in Jordan Peele’s “Get Out.”

 The duo are on a date when a routine traffic stop takes a bad turn. Forced to kill the cop in self-defense, the pair are on the run trying to find a way to prove their innocence and you take a backseat experience in this suspenseful car ride.

This 2:12 film is this week’s performance shown for Black Film Friday, the annual event hosted by San Diego City College’s Umoja program in celebration of Black History Month.

The screening begins at 4 p.m. in MS-162.

Through the eyes of Queen & Slim, we are faced with questions of how one proves one’s existence as a person, whether one can trust the justice system, and how the black identity factors into both these questions. 

The many themes and messages throughout the film ask the question of what are the rights of people who live in this country regardless of skin color.

This 2020 BET Award-winning heartfelt film has plenty of twists and turns on the journey with amazing supporting actors along the stops like Bokeem Woodbine as Earl and Jahi Di’Allo Winston as Junior.

A great soundtrack filled with plenty of Black artists perfectly reflects the story being told and sets up an ending to the road trip you can’t miss.

Director Melina Matsoukas created a great story with characters that grow on you like an old family car. The soundtrack conveys so many perspectives through the lines of artists like 6lack, Vince Staples, EARTHGANG, Lil Baby and Burna Boy.

 Bring your favorite snack for the ride. There’s so much to love about this film and the actors bring emotional intensity in every scene, wasting no minute and always bringing their character to the front of the film.

Take two hours this Friday to watch an emotional look at what freedom means from the Black perspective.