Viola Davis shines in true story of elite female fighting force
by Susan X Jane
Sep 15, 2022
3 minutes
“The Woman King,” directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, tells the story of Nanisca, played by Viola Davis, general of the Agojie warriors – an elite, all-female fighting force. Set in the 1820s in the West African kingdom of Dahomey, present-day Benin, the film balances ferocious action with intimate moments, creating compelling characters and bringing to life a complex and little-known time and place.
Period pieces featuring predominantly Black characters from the 19th century are typically slave stories, harrowing tales of grief and loss set in the American South. By contrast, “The Woman King” shows us a
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