The wonderful thing about movies like The Woman King is that they remind us that there are tons of stories that are left untold: beautiful and inspiring stories of epic proportions that will leave you in awe, and sometimes, in disbelief.
The story of the Agojie, an all-female unit of fierce warriors in the African kingdom of Dahomey in the 1800s, can be thought of as straight out of a fiction novel. But what’s fascinating is, it’s not.
For 200 years, the Kingdom of Dahomey (now in southern Benin) was protected by the Agojie, fierce women warriors who were revered (and feared) in West Africa.
Director Gina Prince-Bythewood (The Old Guard) masterfully recreated this amazing story from a solid script from Dana Stevens, and with it raised many themes that are still relevant today.
The Woman King depicts the journey of these warriors in protecting the kingdom from rival tribes at a time when slaves are being sold off to Europeans.
General Nanisca, played amazingly by Viola Davis (Suicide Squad, The Help, Widows), leads the kingdom’s protectors: fierce and skilled female warriors who literally possess superhuman abilities (they can still fight like crazy even with sword cuts and stab wounds). She also plays an important role as one of King Ghezo’s trusted advisers, a privilege she will try to capitalize on when attempting to make significant changes in their participation in the slave trade.
Most notably, the story of the Agojie gave a whole new perspective to what it means to be female and the different faces of femininity.
With each Agojie warrior, we’re shown a unique view of femininity: one of the several things the movie has done well.
Equally gripping is the manner in which this group of characters (and what they represent) is plastered onto a societal and political background that is still, in some ways, patriarchal.
Their monarch is a man. Fathers decide what happens to their children. And men can be savage towards women without much repercussions.
It’s pretty ironic how, in a kingdom that valued women (crucial roles are balanced by having both men and women), the concept of abusive domestic patriarchy still exists. Nawi, played by an incredible Thuso Mbedu (The Underground Railroad), a young orphan is punished by her father because she doesn’t want to be sold off as a bride.
This is the same father who bows down in reverence to Nanisca and the Agojie whenever they pass by on the streets.
The same man who thinks giving up his daughter to the Agojies is a form of punishment.
Nawi then undergoes training from General Nanisca and soon discovers what it means (and what it takes) to be among the ranks of the celebrated fighters.
A great story won’t amount to anything without the right people to tell it. Fortunately, we have a great cast to bring these characters to life.
Davis was spectacular. I didn’t realize she was as effective in action as she was in drama.
Not only did she pull off the physical requirements of the role, there was depth in her performance. Her eyes were serving all the emotions a scarred warrior would have.
At the same time, her presence seems to elicit the same energy from her co-stars. The young Mbedu was a breakout star. She’s got a lot of depth and definitely can hold her own in the presence of much more experienced actors.
Lashana Lynch (Captain Marvel, No Time To Die), who plays Lieutentant Izogie, combined a bit of reckless fun with the seriousness required from her role. Sheila Atim (Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, The Show) who plays Amenza, Nanisca’s right hand, possessed a fierce calmness that balanced the personalities around her.
Meanwhile, John Boyega (Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Pacific Rim: Uprising) who played King Ghezo, felt a bit underwhelming especially in the presence of Davis and the rest. For some reason, his aura didn’t exude the regalness suitable for a king. Even his appearance lacked a commanding presence.
Which is interesting because everyone around him looked the part. Could it be a deliberate effort to further depict how far more superior in power the women are?
Power and control is among the underlying themes in the movie, one that the script managed to actualize well. The slave trade and the savagery that sprouted from that (and its horrors) were well depicted. (Although the politicking inside the kingdom could have been fleshed out more because it added another interesting layer to Nanisca’s storyline.)
The war battles were well-choreographed. The opening scene was a great way to kick off the film because it showed our leads in action. And what’s great about it is even though scenes like that were executed well, the amount of blood and gore is not too much.
I find it interesting because other movies would rely on the impact of the sight of blood and organs to make a fight scene effective. The Woman King didn’t need to exploit that to have an impact.
What’s missing for me here is the lack of enough great shots. I was waiting for camera angles that would make certain scenes more impactful. Even the establishing shots fell short in showing the grandeur of the setting, which is quite disappointing because the production design is exquisite.
The Woman King is now showing in PH cinemas.
Photo Credit: Columbia Pictures
