Film Review — The Woman King
★★★☆☆
In the African kingdom of Dahomey, General Nanisca leads an elite all-female group of warriors, the Agojie, in a fierce battle to protect her land and people.
Hollywood and “truth” is a rare combination. Led by the always-excellent Viola Davis (who also produces), The Woman King joins the likes of Braveheart and 300 and a long line of epics that forgo historical accuracy in favour of big-screen thrills. Davis delivers a typically strong performance as the film, surprisingly and deftly, switches from a fairly standard war story to something far more intimate and emotionally engaging.
Joining Davis is a solid supporting cast, with Lashana Lynch a particular standout, strengthening her credentials with a performance that oozes charm and likability. The film’s numerous battle scenes were disappointing, too often poorly lit, overly edited, and lacking any discernible bloody violence to accentuate the mayhem.
Taken as fiction, this is an enjoyable film with an earnest message, solid production value, and excellent acting performances. But the filmmakers’ curt dismissal of the real-life nature of the Dahomey, the Agojie, and their role as brutal slavers is problematic at best.
