Most Marvel movies feature a male lead that is white, tall and sculpted. Though, when Marvel’s Black Panther came out in 2018, with black-led superheroes, this helped paved the way for a new, diverse Marvel universe. The Woman King, released recently on Netflix, follows a remarkable story of the Agoije, an all-female African army. It gives you a taste of what can happen when women lift up other women.
The action-packed film follows the group of female warriors in protecting their kingdom of Dahomey. Their skills are fierce throughout the film, kicking-ass unapologetically. Faced with a new threat against their village and African King,(John Boyega), the elders train a new set of women warriors.
The Agoije general, (Nanisca), is played by Oscar winner, Viola Davis. Some other female warriors of the Agoije soldiers is Izogie, played by British actress Lashana Lynch, who was the first black agent in a James Bond movie. The warriors newest young member, Nawi, played by Thuso Mbedu, shows her courage throughout the film.
Even if you’re not an action movie fan, you can stay for the beautiful and vibrant costumes worn by the characters. The film also shows loosely inspired events of the diverse, complicated history of African cultures and their tribes. Let us not forget the shredded, muscular women you also see throughout the film.
This film is designed to inspire audiences, with cheers for the usual, outspoken underdog. Not only is The Woman King entertaining, with fantastic cinematography, but has risen to the top in box office, concluding with 99% on Rotten Tomatoes. The New York Times writes, “The Woman King is a sweeping entertainment, but it’s also a story of unwavering resistance in front of and behind the camera.”
Serena Zohbe Garcia
Reporter
