05/10/2025
🎬 The Woman King (2022)
Starring: Viola Davis | Thuso Mbedu | Lashana Lynch | Sheila Atim | John Boyega
The Woman King—now revisited in its re-release—remains a towering achievement of visceral action and historical weight. At its heart is a commanding performance by Viola Davis as General Nanisca, leading a tale that fuses epic warfare, cultural pride, and deeply human emotion. Under the bold, precise direction of Gina Prince-Bythewood, the film honors the legendary Dahomey Amazons with both ferocity and soul.
Set in 1823, the story follows Nanisca (Davis) as she commands the indomitable Agojie warriors in their fight against slave traders and rival tribes. She mentors a fierce young recruit (Thuso Mbedu) while confronting a ruthless king (John Boyega), navigating dense jungles, fortified strongholds, and the shifting tides of power. Alongside her, Lashana Lynch and Sheila Atim embody loyalty, strength, and sacrifice, reinforcing themes of sisterhood, freedom, and resilience across a vividly realized African landscape.
Davis delivers a magnetic, career-defining turn: her battle cries, searing presence, and uncompromising leadership ignite the screen. Mbedu shines with heartfelt vulnerability, Lynch radiates fiery charisma, and Boyega injects his role with unexpected nuance. Prince-Bythewood orchestrates combat with raw, kinetic power—spear clashes and sweeping battles captured in both brutality and beauty. Complemented by breathtaking cinematography and Terence Blanchard’s stirring score, the film becomes as much a sensory experience as it is a narrative one