There are good movies, and there are bad movies, but there are precious few that shatter preconceptions, and leave you seeking to learn more about the history being used as inspiration. 'The Woman King' is one of those rarities.
There are, honestly, many things to love about 'The Woman King', most notably the stunningly talented cast – while typically an ensemble cast means some stories hold less impact or interest than others, there wasn’t a member of the Agodjie I wouldn’t cheerfully watch a spin-off movie about. Though possibly the most unexpected element was how differently people can interpret this movie. Listening in on post-screening conversations, for many, it’s a kick-ass action flick with a little more heart than typical. For others, myself included, it’s a staggeringly beautiful conversation around many topics we tend to shy away from, especially in action movies.
For lovers of 'Black Panther', Dahomey’s elite female warriors, the Agodjie, will feel somewhat familiar – after all, they served as inspiration for the Dora Milaje. And yet, unlike the typical superhero fare where trauma is an inspiration easily shrugged off, this movie is an unflinching exploration of the aftermath of trauma, and the difficulties in replacing what is easy with what is right.
I must admit, when I heard about the controversy around this film, I assumed the issue was that the movie ignored Dahomey’s historical involvement in the slave trade, and yet, this is a movie about fighting to end the kingdom’s involvement. Like all historical fiction, liberties are taken around facts and details, but what’s lacking in historical accuracy is made up for through creating opportunities to explore complex issues around power, morality, responsibility, and fairness. This isn’t a story about mindless action, nor a story with clearly defined heroes and villains, instead it’s a story about consequences. And that makes this one of the most interesting, compelling movies I’ve seen in years.
It would be painfully easy for 'The Woman King' to shrug off the kingdom’s ignoble actions, and yet while the characters are mostly sympathetic (I say mostly because John Boyega plays a chillingly believable politician), at no point did I feel led to believe them entirely innocent or heroic. There is no shrugging off their responsibilities, no moment where viewers can forget that this is a country doing morally repugnant things. Viola Davis (who deserves all the awards for this performance) plays Nanisca, leader of the Agodjie, whose own experience being captured by the enemy and enslaved leaves her at odds with her kingdom’s ongoing history of selling slaves, and her own part within that practice. And it’s this central conflict between who people are, and who they want to be, that makes 'The Woman King' a narrative masterpiece. The fight scenes are spectacular, and infinitely more impressive given that the actors performed most battle choreography themselves. But it’s the story between battles where the true magic lies.
This is not the movie for you if you need absolute accuracy within historical fiction, and haters of women-led movies will not have a fun time here. But if you’re a fan of thoughtful, emotion-driven narratives served with a healthy side of ass-kicking, you’re going to love 'The Woman King'.
'The Woman King' is in cinemas now.
Additional Author’s Note: There are multiple spellings for the Agodjie, and I am taking my cues from The Woman King Syllabus, which provides resources for those interested in the actual history of Dahomey and the Agodjie. You can find info here.
For those wanting a trigger list: this movie depicts racism, slavery, combat violence, domestic violence (though this is a quick, relatively minor narrative element), ritualised non-combat injuries from knives, discussions and non-graphic flashbacks of rape, and sexism.
