The Woman King blew away all of my expectations and tore up a ton of stereotypes at the same time.
This film is packed with strong female leads and some. And yes, the women look hot with jacked muscles, fighting, strutting around and being all-round badasses.
The film is based on true events in The Kingdom of Dahomey. A powerful state in West Africa during the 18th and 19th centuries.
We meet an all-female group of warriors called Agojie who give up marriage and children to protect the king. General Nanisca (Viola Davis) naturally leads and trains the new recruits.
Nawi (Thuso Mbedu) is called to join the king’s guard. Initially, it is a way to escape from being married off to someone she doesn’t like. She is ambitious, tough and likes to test her limits.
Around this time, there was an increase in the slave trade. Europeans would capture the natives and raid their towns in exchange for goods like rifles, gunpowder, fabrics, tobacco, alcohol and cowrie shells.
With this background, some foreigners arrive by ship and there is tension in the air. The warriors must train hard and fight harder.
The Woman King has a great plot with heart and plenty of fighting and action. It easily stands out as one of my must-watch films for this year.
About The Women King
The Woman King is the remarkable story of the Agojie, the all-female unit of warriors who protected the African Kingdom of Dahomey in the 1800s with skills and a fierceness unlike anything the world has ever seen. Inspired by true events, The Woman King follows the emotionally epic journey of General Nanisca (Oscar®-winner Viola Davis) as she trains the next generation of recruits and readies them for battle against an enemy determined to destroy their way of life. Some things are worth fighting for…
Starring Viola Davis, Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch, Sheila Atim, Hero Fiennes-Tiffin and John Boyega
Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood
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