'The Woman King' Movie Review: The gorgeous Viola Davis powers this great historical adventure
February 6, 2023 1:01 pm | Updated on February 7, 2023 1:11 PM IST

Driven by strong black women, 'The Woman King' is superbly acted by a towering cast that effortlessly projects vanished majesty, gorgeous costumes and heart-wrenching battles.
Mini Anthikad ChhibberMINI ANTHIKAD CHHIBBER

Still life from 'The Woman King' | Photo credit: Sony Pictures

It's no surprise that director Gina Prince-Bythewood counted on The Last of the Mohicans, Braveheart and Gladiator as inspiration for the electrifying Queen. All the action and adventure of these movies is driven by strong black women instead of white saviors.

The Woman King (English)
Directed by: Gina Prince-Bythewood
Starring: Viola Davis, Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch, Sheila Atim, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, John Boyega
Duration: 135 minutes
Plot: The story of Nanisca, a powerful Agojie warrior, and Nawi, new recruits, set against the war between Oyo and Dahomey in West Africa in 1823
In 1823, the West African kingdom of Dahomey has a new ruler, King Gheza (John Boyega). While the Oyo Empire is all-powerful, Dahomey has its own weapon, the Agojie, a group of highly trained female warriors.

Slave traders buy men, women and children from African rulers in exchange for weapons and money. General Nanisca (Viola Davis) leads the raid and rescues the Dahom women captured by Oyo.

Nanisca trains a new group of women to face the retaliation from Oyo that is sure to come and meets Nawi (Thuso Mbedu), a wayward girl who is given to Agojie by her father because she is unwilling to marry the man he chooses for her - Nawi sensibly refuses to marry anyone who raises a hand to her.

The training sequences are moving and exciting in equal measure. Nawi finds a friend in the battle-hardened Izogia (Lashana Lynch). He also helps classmate Fumbe (Masali Baduza) even at the risk of losing his hard-won advantage in the finals.

When Portuguese slaver Santo Ferreira (Hero Fiennes Tiffin) and his friend Malik (Jordan Bolger), whose mother was a Dahomian, arrive as part of an Oyo party, all sorts of events are set in motion, including Nawi's friendship with Malik. , who like every new age bleeding heart came to Dahomey to find his roots.

Davis is magnificent as Nanisca, at once a royal general, a resilient warrior, a caring and vulnerable mother, a shrewd politician and a laconic friend. Mbedu’s Nawi is perhaps a version of what Cora from The Underground Railroad would turn into. She's an apt rumor for Nanisca - unruly, resourceful, loyal and respectful, just like Boyega as the king of Nanisca, who's smart enough to surround himself with experts.
Another The Underground Railroad alum, Sheila Atim, plays Nanisha's oldest and most trusted friend, Amenza. In addition to strong allies and friends, Nanisca also needs a truly badass villain, and that is provided by the burly, snarling General Oba Ade (Jimmy Odukoya).

Maria Bello made up the story on a visit to Benin where she learned about the history of the Agojie who defended Dahomey from the 17th century to the 19th century. The costumes are spectacular (the jewelry is to die for), the towering cast effortlessly project a vanished majesty, and the battles are deliciously heart-stopping.

The cinematography is thoughtful, with no attempts to exoticize or otherwise distinguish Africa amidst beautiful fresh images. That hint of a trunk and wise gray eyes was on the right side of emotion. Historical accuracy notwithstanding, The Woman King is historical adventure of the best kind.