The Woman King (4½ Stars)

This is a role that I wouldn't have expected Viola Davis to play: a warrior woman. And yet she carries the role magnificently. It's a tribute to her acting ability.

The film takes place in 1823 and focuses on the Agojie, an all-female army that fought for the kingdom of Dahomey. It was founded in the mid-1600's for purely practical reasons: there was a lack of men in the kingdom. By the time the film took place the Agojie had reached such a high standing that it wasn't allowed to look at them as they marched through Dahomey.

Viola Davis plays Nanisca, the general of the Agojie. The new king, Ghezo, relies strongly on her to protect Dahomey against the Oyo Empire. The Oyo are the regional leaders, and they demand tributes from the Dahomey, food and people. The Oyo sell Dahomey citizens to European traders as slaves. The Oyo become greedy and demand ever bigger tributes, so Nanisca is called upon to lead the resistance.

Nanisca has a personal grievance with Oba, the leader of the Oyo. When she was young she was captured by the Oyo and repeatedly raped by Oba. She wants revenge, but only if her king allows it.

Nawi is a young woman who's too stubborn to accept the husband picked for her by her parents, so she's given to the Agojie for training. This is intended to be a punishment, but it's the life that Nawi wants to lead.

"Woman King" doesn't show slavery the way it's usually portrayed. Usually we think of white men going to Africa, capturing black people and taking them back to Europe as slaves. In the film it's different. We see the Oyo selling their enemies to the Portugese slave traders. When the Dahomey gain the upper hand, they capture Oyo and sell them to the Portugese. The film shows the Africans sharing the guilt of slavery.

"Woman King" is a powerful film with savage battle scenes. There's also an emotional backstory about the relationship between Nanisca and Nawi. Nanisca is a harsh, highly disciplined warrior, but she has strong emotions that she struggles to keep hidden. It's a pleasure to watch her on screen.