White men speak in subtitled Portuguese, while proud members of various African tribes express themselves in English in "The Woman King," a clear sign of where our loyalties belong in the director's sweeping early 19th-century war film. Gina Prince-Bythewood. It's an epic set in Africa of the kind not seen since "Zulu," only this time, the task of defending the Mother Continent rightfully falls to the locals, not their enslavers. This side of the story is long overdue, reframing Western Civilization's greatest embarrassment as the atrocity it was while celebrating those who opposed it. As modern as it sounds, the film embraces the codes of mid-20th-century period dramas: it's poignant but a bit dull, designed to stand the test of time.
In her fiercest role yet, Viola Davis leads an army of elite female warriors, called Agojie, who protect the kingdom of Dahomey from outside threats. She answers directly to King Ghezo (John Boyega), a man of many wives whose views on women are suitably ambiguous. Similarly, Dana Stevens' moving script strategically downplays Dahomey's own practice of capturing and enslaving others, which would surely have complicated the more admirable dimensions of this historical and history-making drama.
Director: Gina Prince-Bythewood
Writers: Maria Bello, Dana Stevens
Stars: Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Viola Davis, Lashana Lynch
Nicknamed "Amazons" due to their superior strength and berserker fighting style, the Agojie are reportedly the group that inspired "Black Panther's" Dora Milaje. Now, they are likely to inspire future generations, as Prince-Bythewood (a director for whom reach is easy, having come off Netflix's world-spanning film "The Old Guard") gives these women the iconic treatment: Rigorous training montages and other rites of passage. Seen through the eyes of new recruit Nawi (Thuso Mbedu), he builds up elaborately choreographed action sequences and, in some cases, dramatic death scenes. These women are formidable, but not invincible after all.
Davis plays Nanisca, who in the film's aggressive prologue stands her ground against a phalanx of well-armed soldiers, her hair styled in a sort of Mohawk, scars visible on her face and shoulders. We've never seen the actress like this, and not for a second do we doubt Davis's ability to strike down her opponents, as Nanisca brandishes a broad scimitar and howls her high-pitched, shrill battle cry, prompting dozens of Agojie to charge forward. , leaping and spinning into combat with members of a rival mahi people. (Fight coordinator Daniel Hernandez brings some Hong Kong flourishes to the choreography.) This raid has a specific purpose: to free the people of Dahomey whom the Mahi had planned to sell into slavery, and makes it clear that the Africans did not accept such degradation. lying down.
With women clearly established as its heroes, the film proceeds to introduce two villains: the first is Oda (Jimmy Odukoya), ruthless leader of the Oyo Empire, who has been organizing other tribes against the Dahomeys, and who, judging by some flashbacks intense. , he gave Nanisca a personal reason for wanting her head on a pike. The other is a white slave trader named Santo Ferreira (Hero Fiennes Tiffin), who speaks Portuguese and is looking for strong black workers to bring back to Brazil. This character is not remotely intimidating and seems unsuited for the jungle, through which black porters carry him in a sling, an embarrassing practice often seen in the Tarzan movies.
We can't help but hate these two figures, although Santo is accompanied by a heartthrob named Malik (Jordan Bolger), whose heritage is more complicated: his father was white; his mother was Dahomey. The instant Malik lays eyes on Nawi, the movie opens a Disney-esque doorway for romance ("Pocahontas" comes to mind) that she's not really equipped to see through. That said, a bit of sexual tension helps underscore the sacrifices these virgin warriors must make to defend the realm, and the target audience probably doesn't mind a bit of meatloaf to break the 80-minute conditioning Nawi and the others take. they need before the next big battle scene in the movie.
The Dahomey will not be free until Oda and Santo have been dealt with. For these clashes to be believable, "The Woman King" must establish that his warriors are capable of facing superior weapons: the Agojie are armed primarily with swords and spears, while their attackers carry weapons.