The Woman King (2022)
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A general of an all-female warrior regiment in the West African Kingdom of Dahomey trains a new generation of fighters to protect their land.
The story
In the West African kingdom of Dahomey in 1823, General Nanisca leads the Agojie, an all-female regiment of warriors. After the liberation of Dahomean women abducted by slavers from the Oyo Empire, King Ghezo prepares for war with the Oyo. To bolster their defenses, Nanisca begins training a new generation of warriors, including Nawi, a strong-willed girl who was offered to the king after refusing to marry men who would mistreat her. As the threat of invasion looms, Nanisca must prepare her soldiers for the coming conflict while navigating the complexities of leadership and the preservation of their culture.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1823, General Nanisca leads the Agojie, an all-female warrior regiment in the Kingdom of Dahomey. After liberating women abducted by the Oyo Empire, she begins training a new generation of warriors, including Nawi, a girl who was offered to the king. Amidst the tension, Portuguese slave traders and the Oyo army, led by General Oba Ade, arrive in alliance. Nawi befriends a half-Dahomean man named Malik. During a confrontation, Nanisca reveals to Nawi that she is her biological daughter, a secret hidden by a scar. When the Oyo attack, the Agojie successfully repel them, but Oba escapes and several warriors, including Nawi, are captured. Despite the King's refusal to launch a rescue mission, Nanisca defies orders to save her people. In the ensuing chaos, Nawi escapes and reunites with Nanisca. Malik manages to free several others, and Nanisca defeats Oba in single combat. The victorious Agojie return home, where Nanisca is crowned the Woman King, and she and Nawi finally acknowledge their shared bond.
- First release year
- 2022
- Runtime (minutes)
- 135
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Gina Prince-Bythewood
- Writers
- Dana Stevens · screenplay; Maria Bello · story; Maria Bello · story; Dana Stevens · story
- Cast and characters
- Viola Davis · Nanisca; Thuso Mbedu · Nawi; Lashana Lynch; Sheila Atim; Hero Fiennes Tiffin · Santo Ferreira; John Boyega · King Ghezo
- Genres
- historical drama; action-adventure
- Themes
- sisterhood; war; freedom; motherhood
- Tone and mood
- epic; heroic
- Setting
- Kingdom of Dahomey, West Africa, 1823
- Premise and plot tags
- historical fiction; war; female warriors
- Source material / true-story basis
- Based on a story by Maria Bello and Dana Stevens.
- Reception
- The film received generally positive reviews from critics, particularly praising the lead performance and action choreography, though it faced criticism regarding historical accuracy concerning slavery.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 76 · scale: 100 · review count: 35; CinemaScore · score: A+ · scale: A+ to F; PostTrak · score: 95% · scale: percent
- Awards and nominations
- Best Costume Design · Critics' Choice Awards · Nomination; Best Acting Ensemble · Critics' Choice Awards · Nomination; Best Director · Critics' Choice Awards · Nomination; Best Actress · Critics' Choice Awards · Nomination; Best Actress · Golden Globes · Nomination; Best Actress · Screen Actors Guild · Nomination; Best Actress · BAFTA Film Awards · Nomination; Best Actress · NAACP Image Awards · Nomination
- Production trivia
- The production was interrupted by the COVID-19 Omicron variant in early 2022.; The film was the last to be distributed by Entertainment One in Canada before their Canadian division closed.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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