The Woman King is one of the best films to hit theaters in 2022. Visually vibrant and stunning, this film features a nearly all-Black cast with Academy Award Winner Viola Davis at the forefront. Joined by a highly talented cast, including Thuso Mbedu, John Boyega, and Lashana Lynch, The Woman King is a shining example of great cinema.
Telling the story of the all-female warriors of Dahomey, The Woman King takes its audience on a journey of action, regret, struggle, redemption, and self-acceptance. The film perfectly connects each character's struggles with the overarching theme of Dahomey pulling away from the Slave Trade and actively pushing their oppressors back.
10 The Costumes And Sets Are Breathtaking
Although there are many positive things to say about this film, the crew's work in making the movie look authentic through its costumes and sets cannot be overlooked. With costumes worthy of awards, and sets that truly bring the African Kingdom of Dahomey to life, the film deserves recognition for all the detailed work.
Just watching the first few minutes of this film gives the audience a sense that so much love, respect, and research went into creating it. The Woman King thrusts viewers right into the 1800s alongside the Agojie, and the immersion is breathtaking. Nowadays, it's hard for movies to capture an audience so thoroughly, but thanks to the care that went into crafting this film, it's hard to look away.
9 The Film Covers Sensitive Topics With Grace
Throughout the film, topics of slavery, imprisonment, sexual assault, oppression, and other potentially triggering issues arose. Due to the nature of the story, such points were impossible to avoid, but The Woman King handled them with care. Aware that scenes such as Nanisca's flashbacks to being captured and abused might trigger audiences, the film took care never to feel exploitative.
Finding a solid balance between needing to cover an upsetting idea and never fixating on it in a way that felt out of line, The Woman King found that sweet spot of making its point without going too far.
8 The Powerful Themes Of Strength, Forgiveness, And Redemption
The Woman King focuses on Dahomey's push for independence from the Oyo Empire, which is rounding up African captives to sell into slavery. Not only do they fight the much more powerful Oyo Empire, but they also pull away from the Slave Trade themselves, refusing to sell even prisoners.
Weaved throughout this overarching story, audiences get a taste of more personal struggles. Nanisca's assault and unwanted pregnancy led her to abandon her child. Izogie's abusive mother allowed her to bond with the young and rebellious Nawi. Nawi is abandoned by her parents and taken in by the Agojie. Their struggles as a kingdom seem larger than life, but their struggles as individuals feel relatable. Above all, they rise.
7 The Representation Of The Kingdom of Dahomey
The Woman King brings the Kingdom of Dahomey to life in such a realistic way that it authentically feels like being present to witness Dahomey's dispute with the Oyo Empire. Fixating on a group of female warriors makes the film feel almost too surreal to be true. Like the Dora Milaje of Black Panther, the Agojie are elite female warriors serving on the king's guard.
While some creative liberty was likely taken (as most movies based on anything do), the authenticity of the beauty and diversity of Dahomey's culture is at the forefront. Much care went into crafting a realistic representation of the culture and the kingdom's struggles during this time.
6 John Boyega As King Ghezo
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Some of the best focal points of The Woman King are the individual portrayals of iconic characters and historical figures. John Boyega, as King Ghezo, is one shining example. For years, Star Wars fans have complained about Finn's role in the sequel trilogy not being enough or that Star Wars wasted him. Of course, Finn was always important to the sequels, but King Ghezo put Boyega into the spotlight in a way he's never been before.
With such a flawless performance under his belt, and his other new film, Breaking, hitting theaters, Boyega has solidified himself as one of the modern era's best. Fans should look forward to seeing this star shine more after this incredible performance.
5 Lashana Lynch As Izogie
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One of the film's standouts was Lashana Lynch's Izogie. Often providing a bit of comedic relief but never the butt of the joke, Izogie is a powerful warrior who has gained the respect of her fellow Agojie. With a leadership role among the warriors, she's responsible for training the new recruits.
She is also the first person who identifies with Nawi and attempts to make a connection with her. Expressing her messed-up childhood without shame or fear, Izogie has risen above the pains of her past and molded herself into a warrior. She's vital to the main story because her relationship with Nawi, Nanisca, and the rest of the Agojie makes such a powerful impact.
4 The Film Features An Almost All-Female Cast
Unfortunately, we still live in a world where male leads are far more common and praised than female leads. Due to this, there's always been a disproportionate ratio of male-to-female-based films. As a result, many all-female or mostly female-led movies are torn apart, even if they're genuinely good films. 2016's Ghostbusters: Answer the Call is a prime example of the harsh critiques a majority female cast can cultivate.
The Woman King, however, stands as a powerful monument for how good cinema can be without enforcing gender roles or needlessly fixating on male leads when the story doesn't call for it. So many amazing stories have been ignored because of the character(s) at the center, and this film emphasizes how foolish that is.
3 It Also Features A Majority Black Cast
In addition to a nearly all-female cast, The Woman King also focuses on representing Black Excellence on screen. Honing in on the history of West Africa's Oyo Empire and Dahomey's break away from it, this film was destined for excellent representation. Hollywood, however, has a long track record of inserting white or light-skinned actors too heavily in stories that do not involve them or should not focus on them.
This film had an impressive range of Black talent, from well-known actors like Viola Davis to relatively new talent. Not only did the movie tell the story, it celebrated Dahomey's rich culture, and it did not let anything take away from what it set out to accomplish.
2 Thuso Mbedu as Nawi Rivals Viola Davis
When starring in a film with Academy Award Winner Viola Davis, it can be challenging to keep up, let alone stand out. While there were plenty of outstanding performances in The Woman King, none rivaled the all-star power of Viola Davis more than Thuso Mbedu. Portraying a young woman left for the king by her frustrated parents who no longer wished to deal with her, Mbedu brought a powerful sense of self-worth to her character.
Where most would give up in the difficult environment in which she grew up, she stood up for herself and wanted a better life. Refusing to let a man harm her, she became one of the most powerful warriors the Agojie had ever seen.
1 Viola Davis As Nanisca, The Woman King
It should come as no surprise that Viola Davis' performance as Nanisca, the general of the Agojie, was spectacular. Powerful, captivating, and capable of great things, but hiding a dark secret, she was the one to watch throughout the film. Presenting herself as a hardened general who is not swayed by her emotions or the emotions of others, audiences are heartbroken to learn the truth of where that came from.
Davis' role handled many sensitive topics, including her sexual assault and resulting pregnancy, but she dealt with every single aspect of Nansica with grace and dignity. When she finally makes amends with her daughter, Nawi, viewers are sure to be in tears.