The Woman King was recently released in theaters to critical and commercial acclaim. Indeed, Viola Davis’ new movie exceeded expectations, per CNN, raking in higher than predicted numbers at the box office during its opening weekend. This comes a week after the film made its world premiere at TIFF 2022, where it was hailed as one of Davis’ strongest performances to date. The Woman King features an ensemble cast who are all incredible on-screen.

Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, The Woman King is a historical epic about the Agojie, an all-women group of warriors who are tasked with protecting the West African Kingdom of Dahomey from the 17th to the 19th Centuries. The film is a visual masterpiece, thanks to cinematographer Polly Morgan, and is currently creating Oscar buzz in multiple categories. Here are four strong reasons why you should go and watch it now.

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4 Viola Davis Gives a Career-Defining Performance

     TriStar Productions / eOne

Davis stars in the leading role as General Nanisca, the leader of the Agojie. Davis leads the other Agojie and embodies her role with her usual unmatched talent. She brings a sternness to the character that feels subtle and cohesive, and the confidence she brings allows us to fully invest in why the rest of the women accept and admire her as their leader. She delivers a pre-battle speech that feels particularly memorable, one in which we feel her raw emotion and determination. More than just strength, of course, Davis’ performance also brings out Nanisca’s softer and more vulnerable side. Davis is an exceptional actor, and this performance is different from anything else she has done before, feeling like a total transformation before the audience’s eyes.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

3 Based on a True Story

     Sony Pictures Releasing

One of the most compelling aspects of The Woman King is that it is based on a true story. The Agojie, the details of their lives, and their struggles against the threat of enslavement and colonization are real, and the essential facts about Dahomey are accurate. Of course, the individual characters, apart from young King Ghezo (played by John Boyega), are constructed solely for the film. Dahomey has some fascinating history, and although important parts were omitted from the film, The Woman King still has a lot of historical significance.

The first recorded mention of the Agojie dates to 1729. However, the unit was beleived to have been possibly formed even earlier, toward the beginning of Dahomey’s existence, when King Huegbadja (reigning circa 1645 to 1685) created a corps of women elephant hunters. The Agojie reached their peak in the 19th Century, under Ghezo, who incorporated them into Dahomey’s army. The male population had dipped, which created an opportunity for women warriors. The film stays true to this and captures the real-life essence of the Agojie. It’s not often that, in a Hollywood movie, we get to see women lead the charge as warriors who are strong, complex, and at the forefront — let alone a cast of predominantly Black women — which makes The Woman King even more exceptional.

2 Actors Transformed Their Physiques for the Role

     Sony Pictures Releasing 

One of the most amazing things to note when watching The Woman King is the transformations that the actors underwent. When you see Davis on-screen, her physique is completely different and the process by which she got to that point is even more impressive. Most of the actors in the movie had to undergo a rigorous training regime, which saw their bodies completely transform in the lead-up to filming.

To prepare for their roles, Davis and her fellow cast members relied on personal trainer Gabriela Mclain. She revealed that to prepare the women for their roles, she curated specific workouts and diet plans tailored to that individual that was discovered through DNA testing. Her regiments included weight training, strength training, and running, as well as strict diets, which ensured the women would bulk up for their roles. It’s an amazing feat and the dedication to this pays off in the final result.

1 Gina Prince-Bythewood’s Direction

     TriStar Pictures

The Woman King is directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, and fans have long been awaiting her comeback after earlier productions such as Love & Basketball and Beyond the Lights. Her focus is on women protagonists, and she has stated that she particularly focuses on Black women characters, which has made it especially difficult for some of her films to get the greenlight. The idea for The Woman King originated with actor Maria Bello, who produced it and wrote the story with the film’s screenwriter, Dana Stevens. It opens in 1823 in the kingdom of Dahomey, located in what is now Benin. Prince-Bythewood’s work is excellent, and her talents combine perfectly with everyone else involved in The Woman King. Ultimately, she proves that studios needn’t hesitate when it comes to producing stories about Black women; audiences want to watch these movies, and The Woman King is clear proof.