CNN
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Although “inspired by real events,” “The Woman King” is clearly not tied to them, taking the underlying story of the female warriors of a 19th-century African kingdom as the starting point for an evocative action vehicle. , and many elements have been added. of melodrama. The combination creates a strong showcase of stars, with a cast and background that helps reinvent the old formula.
The always dignified Viola Davis is solid in the film as General Naniska, leader of the Agojie known as the Dahomey Amazons, a unit of women who pursue martial arts and vow to marry and motherhood to protect their kingdom. This is the egalitarian trend in a society where the King (John Boyega) still owns a vast harem.
The gateway to this warrior culture was Nawi, an independent-minded, stubborn young woman who refused to marry for money and ultimately prompted her ”, another strong performance on a vast canvas). Her frustrated father dropped her off at her palace.
There, she was taken under the wing of Izogie (Lashana Lynch, an addition to her action resume that includes “Captain Marvel” and “No Time to Die”) to finally get her into this elite legion. I was trained to undergo a brutal regimen that would become army.
The boot camp that followed was undoubtedly a source of inspiration for modern workout programs, but a possible war with the Oyo Empire, a rival kingdom that has extorted tribute from the Dahomey for years. Proceed in preparation for sexuality. Naniska, on the other hand, urged the king to stop participating in the slave trade, claiming that selling captured enemies to Europeans created a “dark circle” as Europeans increasingly encroached on their lands. There is
‘My body went through hell’: Viola Davis training like a warrior for upcoming movie
Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood (“Love & Basketball”), the sweeping outlines of this story are quite simply I have a lot to digest. (The screenplay is by Dana Stevens, who shares story credits with actor Maria Bello.)
Filmed in South Africa, the film helps fill some of the narrative gaps by opening with a brutal action sequence that shows just how fierce Naniska and her loyal soldiers are. This is the first of several such encounters, and while the scenes are carefully filmed to soften the gore, the level of violence and format of the war seem so generous that the PG-13 rating is questionable. That’s about it.
Naniska worries that her warriors “do not know that evil is coming.” But “The Woman King” portrays this fascinating subculture in a time and place, playing it in a way that celebrates its African heritage while adopting decidedly contemporary tones, giving Friday night audiences is probably the best at catering to the escapist demands of
Prince Bythewood achieved the final goal with a brisk pace and sheer muscularity of movement, greatly aided by Terrence Blanchard’s epic score. As such, the film could give other projects that have historically struggled in terms of studio support a welcome boost.
Somehow, the film can feel like a throwback to the action movies of old while featuring people who were rarely allowed to occupy key roles at the time. By then, “The Woman King” has made the most of its formidable arsenal, even if it doesn’t swell as much as intended.
“The Woman King” premieres in US theaters on September 16th. The rating is PG-13.
