The Woman King: Film Review
I feel like I’ve been stuck in a three-star rut lately and no film has exceeded average or good. So I’m absolutely thrilled to declare that The Woman King is fantastic and will likely be in my top 10 of the year.
The film is set in the Kingdom of Dahomey in West Africa in 1823. It follows the Agojie, a tribe of female soldiers who work for King Ghezo (John Boyega). The narrative follows new recruits, particularly Nawi (Thuso Mbedu), as they train and become warriors ready for battle under the leadership of Nanisca (Viola Davis).
What a rip-roaring, crowd-pleasing and entertaining historical epic. I haven’t seen a movie this good in a while. Director Gina Prince-Bythewood delivers some expertly choreographed and executed action setpieces and battles as well as perfectly pitched quieter moments. She gives us spectacle without forgetting to round out the main characters. Some bits of action will have you cheering (my screening was very vocal) while other scenes are surprisingly moving.
The film is a celebration of female power and strength, but it’s not afraid to show their vulnerabilities too. They are not stone-hearted warriors; they have feelings. The film understands and embraces this complexity so it’s no surprise that it was made by a mostly female-led team, with Prince-Bythewood working alongside screenwriter Dana Stevens, director of photography Polly Morgan and Davis as an executive producer. It’s also a great step forward for representation as there are hardly any white people in the movie and the principal cast speaks with African accents.
Davis is formidable as Nanisca, a strong and fierce warrior who looks absolutely exhausted by everything life has thrown at her so far. She is tough on the new recruits for their own good and takes no nonsense – but don’t let the hard exterior fool you, there is a lot of emotion buried deep inside waiting to spill out. The only person who has the privilege of seeing the vulnerable side of Nanisca is her friend and confidante Amenza (Sheila Atim). Atim is perfectly cast – she looks like the greatest warrior ever but is so warm and kind.
Nawi is the audience surrogate as the newcomer to the Agojie so we immediately connect with her. She is the heart of the film and her journey through the recruitment and training process is the main narrative (although there is much more going on). I adored her and really cared for her character.
While those three ladies are impressive, Lashana Lynch steals the show as Izogie. She is funny, cheeky and very cool to watch in battle. Boyega has the required swagger as the new king, but let’s be honest, the movie belongs to the women.
In a world of reboots, remakes and sequels, it makes me happy to know that this original – and terrific – movie exists. What a triumph for all involved.
In cinemas from Tuesday 4th October