Gender disparity? Such notions are brutally dispatched in the rousing trailer for The Woman King. The upcoming action epic is inspired by a fascinating if little-known period in African history at the turn of the 20th century. And it showcases a memorably ferocious performance from Oscar winner Viola Davis as a vengeance-fuelled tribal leader.
Davis portrays General Nanisca, leader of the Agoji, also known as the Dahomey Amazons. The latter was a real-life, autonomous, all-female tribe of warriors who maintained their own military regiment within the Kingdom of Dahomey until 1904, when the kingdom dissolved. Elements of the remarkable true story are now folded into a blood and thunder adventure in which Nanisca's legions are forced to battle a new enemy to preserve their way of life.
Any film that's crowned with a Viola Davis performance won't be lacking in credibility. And she's flanked by an admirable supporting cast including No Time To Die's Lashana Lynch and Star Wars' John Boyega, the latter playing Ghezo, the King of Dahomey (a real-life figure).
The Old Guard director Gina Prince-Bythewood is at the helm, working from a script she co-authored with Fatherhood writer Dana Stevens (itself inspired by a story treatment by actor Maria Bello). So, we have a director with action chops, a memorably commanding lead actor and a story that cross-pollinates fact and fiction to make undoubtedly pungent statements about race, gender, identity and sexuality. Consider us sold. Check out the trailer.
The Woman King is released in the UK on October 4. Excited? Let us know @Cineworld.
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