Although “inspired by real events”, the movie “The King Woman” clearly isn’t tied to them, using the underlying story of 19th century female warriors in an African kingdom as the jumping-off point for exciting action, ramped up on several levels with plenty of melodrama.
This combination produces a strong showcase for the stars, featuring a cast and set that serves to update the genre’s formula.
Majestic as ever, Viola Davis provides the film with its solid core as General Nanisca, leader of the Agojie, known as the Dahomey Amazons, a unit of women who eschew marriage and motherhood to practice martial arts and defend the kingdom.
It’s an egalitarian trend within a society where the king (John Boyega) still has an extensive harem.
The entry point into this warrior culture comes through Nawi (Thuso Mbedu, with another powerful performance), a headstrong, independent-minded young woman who refuses to marry for money, ultimately prompting her frustrated father to leave her at the palace.
There, she is warded by Izogie (Lashana Lynch, adding to an action resume that includes “Captain Marvel” and “No Time to Die”) and trained to endure the brutal regime that will eventually admit her into this elite troop corps.
The training that follows – which will certainly serve as a source of inspiration for modern training programs – proceeds in tandem with preparation for a potential war against a rival kingdom, the Oyo Empire, which has extorted tributes from the Dahomey for years.
Nanisca, meanwhile, urges the king to abandon his participation in the slave trade, arguing that the sale of captured enemies to Europeans has created “a dark circle” as they increasingly intrude on their lands.
Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, the sweeping plot twists are simply too much to digest, especially with the various subplots and Nanisca’s backstory that is thrown into this mix. The screenplay is by Dana Stevens, who shares story credit with actress Maria Bello.
Shot in South Africa, the feature helps fill part of the exhibition gap, opening with a brutal action sequence, demonstrating just how fierce Nanisca and her loyal soldiers can be.
It’s the first of several such encounters, and while the scenes are carefully shot to mitigate the gore, the level of violence and form of warfare are such that the 13-year-old rating seems questionably generous.
Nanisca worries that her warriors “don’t know that an evil is coming”, a provocation for the pending battle against the Oyo.
But “The King Woman” perhaps excels most in portraying this fascinating subculture given the time and place, playing as a celebration of African traditions while embodying a decidedly modern tone and still meeting the escapist demands of a Friday-to-night audience. night.
Prince-Bythewood achieved that last goal with fast pace and the sheer musculature of the exercise, with significant assistance from Terence Blanchard. With its heavily female and almost entirely black cast, the film could give a welcome boost to other projects that have historically struggled in terms of studio support.
Somehow the film manages to feel like a throwback to old action movies, while introducing people who were rarely allowed to fill prominent roles at the time. If the ending is a little too full to be as exciting as intended, then “King Woman” has made the most of its formidable arsenal.
“The King Woman” premiered last week in the United States. In Brazil, it premieres on September 22. The indicative age rating is 13 years.
Source: CNN Brasil
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
