News culture The Woman King: The History of Africa as you’ve never seen it with Viola Davis (Black Adam)!
Published on 09/22/2022 at 17:30
Faced with the domination of cinema by blockbusters and franchise sequels calibrated for the general public, proudly stands a historic film recounting the destiny of an exceptional African warrior. The Woman King arrives in dark rooms on September 28, 2022, and intends to leave its mark on the History of the 7th Art.
Summary
- The Woman King in a nutshell
- A masterful historical fresco
The Woman King in a nutshell
The Woman King est an American-Canadian historical film directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, a director you probably know for The Old Guard on Netflix with Charlize Theron, and scripted by author Dana Stevens (City of Angels, The Nightingale). This feature film scheduled for September 28, 2022 in French cinemas looks back on the struggle of the kingdom of Dahomey against its neighbors and slavers during the 19th century. The story focuses in particular on General Nanisca then tasked with training a new generation of female warriors in an effort to repel the invader.
This historical figure is played by Viola Davis, an American actress whose name may be foreign to you, but not the face. Indeed, the latter notably played in The Suicide Squad (2021), and will make an appearance in Black Adam alongside Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson on October 19. Help Mbedu, Lashana Lynch (Captain Marvel, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Dying Can Wait) and Sheila Atim (The Baker Street Irregulars, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Pinocchio) joined the ranks of the Agojie, the Amazons of Dahomey. Finally, John BoyegaFN-2187 aka Finn in Star Wars postlogy, lends his features and voice to King Ghezo.
A masterful historical fresco
The Woman King will speak primarily to lovers of the African continent as well as fans of historical frescoes wishing to discover West Africa at the beginning of the 19th century and above all to extract oneself from the lessons provided by Western history books. Gina Prince-Bythewood’s film depicts the habits and customs of an influential kingdom, that of Dahomey, and recounts the extraordinary destiny of a warrior who in her time knew how to make a difference.
General Nanisca and her troops invade the dark rooms to attack us a master class in history and cinema for the greatest pleasure of the curious that we are. It would be personally impossible for me to say how much History with a capital H is romanticized here, and to disentangle historical reality from fiction. However, The Woman King engendered in me the desire to learn more about this periodon this kingdom, and on the figures who traced its destiny.
This warrior fresco is not to be put in front of all eyes and within reach of all ears. This feature film tackles head-on subjects heavy with meaning, the slave trade and colonialism in mind, and supports his point with graphic and verbal violence, never free, but on the contrary always appropriate. It is also worth saluting the performances of the actresses who give themselves body and soul for their role. The exchanges of replicas are matched only by their martial prowess, perfectly highlighted by an image and a staging worthy of the Amazons of Dahomey.
