“The Woman King” (2022) starring Viola Davis / Z-View

The Woman King (2022)

Director:  Gina Prince-Bythewood

Writer:  Dana Stevens from a story by Maria Bello, Dana Stevens

Stars:  Viola Davis, Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch, Sheila Atim, John Boyega and Angélique Kidjo

Tagline: Inspired by true events.

The Plot…

Nanisca (Davis), leads an army of women warriors.  She also has the ear of Dahomey’s King Ghezo (Boyega) as he prepares for a potential war with the Oyo.  As Nanisca trains a new group of warriors, she also encourages King Ghezo to get out of the lucrative slave trade business with the Porteguese.

When Nanisca and a group of her warriors free women abducted by the Oyo, it is the spark needed to set the war in motion.  The Oyo outnumber the Dahomey and as the tension escalates, the new warriors will have to be ready for the battles to come.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Woman King is extremely well done.  It was nominated for two Screen Actors Guild Awards (Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture and Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role – Viola Davis); won the American Film Institutes Movie of the Year award; was nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture: Drama – Viola Davis; nominated for 5 Hollywood Critics Association awards: Best Action Film, Best Director, Best Cast Ensemble, Best Actress (Viola Davis), Best Picture to name just a few of the honors The Woman King has earned.

Viola Davis is convincing as a woman who could lead woman and battle men.  Her women warriors went through rigorous training to get in shape for months prior to filming and it paid off on screen.

The Woman King earns 4 of 5 stars.