#MovieReview: The Woman King – a proudly African epic

The Woman King hearkens back to much loved historical epics and is sincere in its glowing depiction of the Agojie army.

The Agojie were an all-female regiment of the Dahomey Kingdom (circa 1600-1900, present day Benin), whose fierce fighters became widely respected for their battle prowess across West Africa.

Anchored by the unsurprisingly excellent Viola Davis as general Nanisca, The Woman King is a straight down the line epic and enjoyable way to spend two hours.

Detractors of the film have pointed out its various historical inaccuracies, most notable being the partial abnegation of the Dahomey’s role in the African slave trade.

The Dahomey’s great wealth and power was in part drawn from their sale of fellow Africans to European slavers, with the Agojie complicit in the process.

But this is an epic that is inspired by events from history rather than trying to be a documentary, much in the same way that Gladiator and Braveheart took liberties with the truth.

It is a tried-and-true Hollywood method to engineer better plot points and should prompt further study of West African history rather than putting you off entirely.

We have frighteningly few opportunities to watch big-budget showcases with black women at the centre of the frame, let alone behind the camera, and this one has the added advantage of many local links.

The second lead, Nawi, is played with a simmering ferocity by South African actress Thuso Mbedu who grew up in Pietermaritzburg, while many of the movie’s scenes were shot on location in Zululand.

Though it is admittedly rare that these types of movies are made, The Woman King should not be chalked off as something you should watch because it is ‘important’ and a way to eat your liberal vegetables.

It moves along swiftly, with many laughs along the way, aside from its well choreographed fight scenes that punctuate the major moments of narrative tension.

A slightly heavy-handed and unnecessary romantic subplot falls flat, but most of the main story retreads common plot points that have become popular for a reason.

This is a refreshingly original look at an often under taught part of world history through a recognisable framework.

Watch it on its own merits or to help support the South African film industry. Either way you will have a proper old-school-movie good time.

The bigger the screen the better.

Rated 16 for scenes of Violence and Sexual Violence.
4/5.

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