REVIEW: Viola Davis’ New Film, The Woman King, is Cinematic Excellence and an Action-Packed Vibe

The Woman King, directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood (Love & Basketball), starring Oscar and Emmy winner Viola Davis (General Nanisca), is cinematic excellence. 

Written by Maria Bello and Dana Stevens, the Amazon female soldiers’ story is loosely based on the real-life Agojie, the all-woman army of the African kingdom of Dahomey in 1840’s Africa.

Along for this visually stunning, action-packed dive into 19th-century Africa, a story inspired by historical events, are Thuso Mbedu (Nawi), Lashana Lynch (Izogie), Sheila Atim (Amenza), Hero Fiennes Tiffin (Santo Ferreira), and John Boyega (King Ghezo),  

The Woman King opens in a dark field with Viola’s character General Nanisca, leader of the Agojie (Dahomey) and one of the wives of King Ghezo, appearing in the night. Then, leading her all-female Amazon soldiers, one by one, they appear and use their highly trained brut force to rescue victims kidnapped by the Oyo Empire. The Oyo planned to sell them to the European and Portuguese colonizers and slavers.

History states that the Dahomey people were one of the most vicious and brutal communities that sold many Africans into slavery alongside Europeans and Portuguese who came to pillage natural resources from Africa and take human captives. This film’s story touches on the small window of resistance that the Agojie may have displayed before their full engulfment in human trafficking. 

Nanisca’s army prevails in the first scene’s battle, and they return to King Ghezo with those rescued to celebrate the victory. We then get an eye full of how these female soldiers lived and trained. They sacrificed ordinary life but dodged some instances of brutal patriarchy, arranged marriages, and abuse, shielded by serving the King. They lived somewhat safely, protecting the King and palace; the only known threats they met were the dangerous encounters with competing tribes on the battlefield. 

The Woman King showcases a mainstream film that can appeal to all audiences, beautifully cast with Black actresses dominating. Black women can indeed fill seats and carry full-throttle action and dramatic performances that are intriguing, visually stunning, and inspiring. Whether you agree with a film about the Agojie or not, the themes of fighting for your people, unity, loyalty, and community are thought-provoking. 

Maria Bello is an actress and producer who co-wrote The Woman King’s script. She first became aware of the Agojie during a trip to Benin in 2015. She reached out to producer Cathy Schulman to locate a studio willing to financially back the project, seeing its appeal for the screen, which is not always easy to come by with a film focused on Black women needing a larger budget to do the film justice. Gina Prince-Bythewood and Davis joined the team soon after.

Before The Woman King could run, 2018’s The Black Panther walked and gave us one of the most successful movies of our lifetime. The Agojie actually inspired some of the fictional Amazon-like warrior characters, the Dora Milaje regiment, in The Black Panther. This film’s success allowed the argument that a movie like The Woman King featuring Black creatives could indeed be successful. 

“It was a constant push and fight to convince people that we deserve a big budget, that we deserved to tell a story like this,” Prince-Bythewood tells the Los Angeles Times.

Viola’s performance as Nanisca is captivating. She’s made a complete transformation into this combat-driven character. Her movements, and fighting skills, are that of a trained warrior, and Davis leaves no stone uncovered in transforming into this slaying machine while being a protector and role model for her Agojie army and recruits. Nanisca’s character has been through trauma her entire life, and it shows in every expression on Davis and every bead of sweat and stoic pose.

Viola powers through this character, showcasing the emotional resilience that Nanisca must yield each day with the threats of colonization at her feet and the weight of survival permeating her entire existence. Her role is not without some very vulnerable moments as a female leader, but even then, Davis doesn’t break away from character as she shows us this powerful weighted, strong Black female character. Davis brings the power of the big blockbuster action films, and you will feel that energy at the core of this weighted and epic project. 

Nawi’s story is an important coming-of-age plot line where we see her being dropped at the King’s palace by her father for being rebellious towards his abuse and patriarchy. He cannot sell her into marriage for a dowry, as Nawi refuses to be a wife by force, and she violently defies everyone. Her father, in retaliation, wants Nawi to know real pain, so he abandons her at the palace gates to become part of the Agojie female army of Amazons. 

Once there, we see her character come even more alive as she challenges Nanisca and her second-in-command of the Agojie, Izogie. So many twists and turns later, we also see a romance with a Portuguese man who is part Dahomey and tagging along with the slavers looking to find his mother’s family. This romance is so important to see on screen, and Prince-Blythwood captures it beautifully.

Gina delivers authentic Black love interests on-screen and captures the chemistry between Nawi and her intriguing new friend. His existence in Nawi’s world jeopardizes her loyalty to the King and her future; she’s already pledged her allegiance in blood to the Agojie.

Thuso is magnetic as Nawi and brings out these enigmatic qualities that are original, beautiful, brave, and often mischievous, but she is on her way to becoming a true Agojie warrior. Thuso shines on screen with an amazing and dazzling performance as she weaves in and out of various storylines, and you remain engaged with her every second as her combat skills explode. There are some scenes in this film that involve a rope that will make you roar in your seat. 

The entire cast delivered thrilling, action-packed scenes with mesmerizing stunts. The screen just came alive. The landscapes were sometimes dark and intense, and every aspect of these visuals rivals some of the great action films of our time. 

Lashana Lynch stuns as Izogie, Naisca’s second in command of the Agojie, and you can’t take your eyes off her mystifying presence. She is strong, powerful, beautiful, and comical at times. Lynch really gets to stretch her strengths as an actress, as do many in this film. Lashana powers through battlefields as the Agojie try to fend off their brothers and sisters being sold off into slavery. It’s a last bout of resistance. 

John Boyega’s energy as King Ghezo was also riveting, and he gave an equally stellar performance. He fell into this role effortlessly; he is a complete laser sharp professional in his craft. He seems to know his strengths as an actor, and it’s delightful to see that passion translate on screen. Not to mention, we need to shout out Boyega’s complete transformation into Ghezo. Within his mannerisms as King, he never breaks a sweat as he governs over his people, army, and numerous wives as he settles squabbles and also celebrates the warrior that is Nanisca. 

Gina Prince-Bythewood’s direction blew me away. She continues to be a force of honesty in this industry, helping to tell stories we’ve only read in books and not always seeing played out on screen. Gina does that important work of inspiring generations to come. Her eye for telling this story was exceptional, and each scene captivates you with riveting action and suspense. 

While historical events inspire this story, it definitely doesn’t leave out those responsible for some of the beginnings of the transatlantic slave trade. The Dahomey, later known as the Benin empire, become ruthless barbarians selling off Africans into slavery to white colonizers, contributing largely to the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. You will see battles being fought and colonizers getting beat down. History tells us that the French defeated the Agojie at some point, and we stress the importance of doing your research on the Agojie as the film most likely inspires many to do. 

The legendary composer Terence Blanchard, cinematographer Polly Morgan, production designer Akin McKenzie, and costume designer Gersha Phillips complimented the film’s greatness. The costumes and hairstyles were breathtaking. It’s so great to see Black representation and accuracy in this film’s production, costumes, locations, hair, and makeup. No stone was left unturned. Young Black viewers will feel pride in seeing the magnificent display of magic on screen, and mainstream audiences will get a true taste of Black excellence and culture. 

In a world where we don’t see enough accurate films centered or based on Black history and get to experience on screen how truly miraculous our stories are, The Woman King fills a gap and delivers an award-worthy film. The sound, direction, writing, makeup, costumes, editing, choreography, and outstanding performances make this a film you do not want to miss.

The talent carrying this film is incredible. From the intense physical training to every last bit of culture, the full circle portrayals illicit nonstop emotion, anger, fear, bravery, love, and humor. Your heart will race. The action scenes were amazing in every aspect; prepare to be stunned. This cast of female warriors is as badass as it comes.

This film is about brotherhood, sisterhood, family, culture, community, history, and a true representation of Black stories that envelop the African Diaspora; nothing distorted or watered down here.

The Woman King is intricate, delicate, bold, fierce, and honest from a perspective that has long been ignored. Grab everyone you love or want to inspire and see this film in theaters on September 16. Bring on the awards.