The Woman King is a 2022 American historical epic film about the Agojie, an all-female military corps that safeguarded West Africa’s Dahomey empire. Viola Davis stars as a general in the 1820s who trains men to fight. Gina Prince-Bythewood directs and Dana Stevens penned the screenplay with Maria Bello. Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch, Sheila Atim, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, and John Boyega co-star.
Bello wrote The Woman King after visiting Benin and learning about the Agojie. She recruited Cathy Schulman to develop it into a full film, but studios declined owing to budgetary concerns. TriStar Pictures greenlit the picture in 2020 after their 2017 meeting. South African production began in November 2021, was halted by COVID-19 Omicron, and resumed in early 2022. Polly Morgan filmed. Terence Blanchard composed the post-production score, and Terilyn A. Shropshire edited.
The Woman King premiered at TIFF on September 9, 2022, and Sony Pictures Releasing released it in the US on September 16, 2022. Critics applauded Davis’s performance and the action choreography after the festival screening.
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The Woman King Plot
General Nanisca, head of the all-female Agojie, frees Dahomean women from Oyo Empire slavers in 1823. King Ghezo of Dahomey prepares for battle with the Oyo. Nanisca trains fresh Agojie soldiers to defend the kingdom. Nawi’s father gave her to the king when she refused to marry males who would beat her. Veteran Agojie Nawi befriends Izogie. She tells Nanisca she’s adopted and exhibits a birthmark on her shoulder, stunning her.
Santo Ferreira and the half-Dahomean Malik arrive in conjunction with General Oba Ade’s Oyo. Nawi befriends Malik as he’s showering. Nawi slips off to speak with Malik after graduating from Agojie training to find that the Oyo are planning an attack. Nanisca reprimands her for being careless. Nanisca says Oba raped and impregnated her as a child. Nanisca implanted a shark tooth in her daughter’s shoulder before giving her away. Nanisca helps Nawi pull her tooth, proving she’s her daughter.
Nanisca leads Agojie against Oyo. Nawi and Izogie are captured, but Oba escapes. One Agojie escapes and tells Nanisca about the others. Ghezo plans to name Nanisca Woman King, his equal in controlling Dahomey, but refuses to save Agojie. Malik buys Nawi to guard Izogie after she is killed escaping. Nanisca defies orders and rescues hostages with other warriors. Nawi escapes the pandemonium to join Nanisca. Malik frees slaves who drown Ferreira, and Nanisca kills Oba. Agojie arrives to Dahomey, where Ghezo admonishes Nanisca before crowning her Woman King. Nanisca and Nawi acknowledge their family after the festivities.
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Cast of Woman King
- Viola Davis as General Nanisca
- Wanda Banda as Young Nanisca
- Thuso Mbedu as Nawi
- Lashana Lynch as Izogie
- Sheila Atim as Amenza
- Lethabo as Young Amenza
- Hero Fiennes Tiffin as Santo Ferreira
- John Boyega as King Ghezo
- Jordan Bolger as Malik
- Jimmy Odukoya as General Oba Ade
- Joel Mukadi as Young Oba
The Woman King Production
The Woman King was directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood and produced by Maria Bello and Cathy Schulman. It was written by Dana Stevens with help from Gina Prince-Bythewood. TriStar Pictures and Entertainment One collaborated on the film.
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South African actors Makgotso Monyemorathoe, Thando Dlomo and Sivuyile Ngesi also make cameo appearances in the movie.
How to watch ‘The Woman King’ in South Africa
The Woman King will premiered in South African theatres on the 30th Friday, September 2022. The movie is listed on movie at Ster-Kinekor and NuMetro theatres.
Its also available via purchase on amazon prime
