The Woman King
The Woman King is gorgeous, violent, eye-opening and start-to-finish thrill-a-minute entertaining.
Nawi (Thuso Mbedu) is cast off by her father, after refusing a marriage proposal. He gifts her to their King, who rules the Kingdom of Dahomey in Africa in the 19th century. There, she joins the Agojie; an all female unit of worries, led by General Nanisca (Viola Davis) - a warrior who is slated to become the fabled Woman King and sit alongside the King. Nawi is aided in her training by Izogie (Lashana Lynch) and Amenza (Sheila Atim), as the Agojie prepare for war with neighbouring tribes over their belief that working with the white man and selling their people into slavery is wrong.
The first thing you need to do with The Woman King is realise that this is a proper action film. And it looks epic. Director Gina Prince-Bythewood makes the Agojie into a lethal, highly efficient and visually impressive fighting force, as they flip around each other, make superhuman leaps, and more. They come across as the closest thing to superheroes without being a Marvel movie.
But while the movie is undoubtedly very enjoyable from that perspective, and the fight scenes are some of the best you’ll see this year, you’d be mistaken for thinking that this was a mindless actioner. Far from it.
The film is couched in a beautiful emotional arc for both Nawi and Nanisca. They traverse their respective journeys while also dealing with the fights and war that stems from their King’s decision to reject slavery, and those journeys - particularly in the hands of Mbedu and Davis - are deeply affecting. Both give performances that are astoundingly engaging; Mbedu’s very raw, but for a young lead tremendously impressive, and Davis’ aided by her years of being one of the best in the business.
Lashana Lynch is another standout. Her portrayal of Izogie is so incredibly fierce, strong and funny that you really feel like she is one of the all time great characters. John Boyega is also a lot of fun as the King, bringing some warmth and levity to the piece, while also giving the King the correct amount of regality.
It’s a beautiful movie, and the visual portrayal of the city, the fight scenes, and these incredible warriors, really is something to behold.
