The Woman King (2022)

Movies

 The Woman King (2022) – Re-Release Review

“A story of courage, strength, and unity that roars louder with time.”

Introduction

When The Woman King first premiered in 2022, it was hailed as a groundbreaking historical epic that not only celebrated the strength of women warriors but also brought to life a rarely explored chapter of African history. Now, with its 2025 theatrical re-release, the film returns to screens with the same thunderous impact—and perhaps even greater resonance.

Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, starring Viola Davis, Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch, Sheila Atim, and John Boyega, The Woman King tells the story of the Agojie, an elite all-female warrior unit of the Kingdom of Dahomey in 1823 West Africa. At its center is General Nanisca (Viola Davis), a leader hardened by war yet softened by her growing bond with the younger generation of warriors.

In a cinematic landscape often dominated by male heroes, The Woman King is a revelation: fierce, heartfelt, and unrelenting.

Act I – Setting the Stage

The film wastes no time immersing audiences in its world. We open on the sweeping plains of Dahomey, the camera catching the shimmer of blades under the rising sun. Viola Davis’s Nanisca strides forward, her presence both regal and terrifying.

The first battle sequence—where the Agojie ambush raiders under cover of night—sets the tone. It is brutal, intimate, and unapologetically violent, but also lyrical in its choreography. Spears pierce the darkness, warriors move as one body, and Nanisca’s commanding voice cuts through chaos like steel.

This introduction does more than showcase action. It grounds us in the world of the Agojie: women trained not simply to fight, but to embody the spirit of their people.

Act II – New Blood, Old Wounds

We meet Nawi (Thuso Mbedu), a young woman forced into the service of the Agojie after refusing an arranged marriage. Her rebellious streak and defiance make her both a liability and a prodigy. Nanisca sees in her both potential and danger.

The training sequences are some of the most exhilarating in the film. Under the unforgiving guidance of Izogie (Lashana Lynch) and Amenza (Sheila Atim), Nawi and the recruits endure grueling tests of endurance, combat, and loyalty. The camera lingers on sweat-soaked faces, scarred hands, and eyes burning with determination.

But the heart of this act is not just training—it’s mentorship. Nanisca, herself scarred by trauma, struggles to balance her protective instincts with her duty as general. Nawi, in turn, pushes back against authority, carving her own path to becoming a warrior.

Act III – The Kingdom and the World

While the Agojie train and fight, political storms brew. King Ghezo (John Boyega) must navigate alliances with European colonizers, weighing profit from the slave trade against his people’s future. These court scenes add layers of complexity, showing the clash between tradition, commerce, and morality.

Nanisca becomes the voice of conscience, challenging Ghezo and advocating for Dahomey’s independence from the shackles of colonial influence. Her speeches, delivered with Viola Davis’s signature intensity, electrify the screen.

This act weaves together the personal and the political: the bond of sisterhood within the Agojie, the corruption of outside powers, and the fragile balance of a kingdom caught between resistance and survival.

Act IV – Fire and Blood

As tensions escalate, Dahomey faces direct confrontation with rival forces allied with European traders. The mid-film battle sequence is one of the movie’s highlights: a sprawling clash set against the backdrop of burning fields.

  • Nanisca fights with ferocity, every strike a testament to her years of sacrifice.

  • Izogie dazzles with reckless bravery, her grin flashing even as enemies swarm.

  • Nawi earns her stripes, proving her worth not only with skill but with the courage to protect her sisters.

The cinematography here is breathtaking. Dust clouds blur the horizon, flames paint the night sky, and every blow feels visceral. Terence Blanchard’s score swells with pounding drums and soaring chants, blending traditional African rhythms with orchestral grandeur.

Act V – The Final Battle

The climax arrives with the Agojie’s greatest challenge: a rescue mission under a fiery sunset. The sequence is both intimate and epic—blade against blade, heart against heart.

Nanisca confronts both her past trauma and her present enemy. Viola Davis delivers a performance of staggering depth, portraying a warrior who has carried pain for decades but finds healing in the fight to protect her sisters.

The final stand is unforgettable: women silhouetted against a burning sky, blood and fire merging into a tableau of defiance. It is as much an emotional crescendo as an action spectacle.

Performances

  • Viola Davis (Nanisca): A tour de force. Davis embodies strength, grief, and resilience in every movement. Her Nanisca is not invincible—she is human, scarred, yet unbreakable.

  • Thuso Mbedu (Nawi): A breakout performance. Mbedu brings youthful energy and emotional vulnerability, grounding the film’s coming-of-age arc.

  • Lashana Lynch (Izogie): The film’s heartbeat. She steals scenes with humor, loyalty, and a tragic bravery that resonates long after the credits.

  • Sheila Atim (Amenza): Calm, spiritual, and wise, Atim provides the moral compass and grounding force.

  • John Boyega (King Ghezo): Balances authority with youthful bravado, portraying a ruler caught between power and conscience.

Cinematic Craft

  • Direction (Gina Prince-Bythewood): Known for The Old Guard, Prince-Bythewood brings her action expertise but elevates it with lyrical intimacy. She frames violence not for spectacle but for meaning.

  • Cinematography (Polly Morgan): Sweeping vistas of Africa, sun-soaked landscapes, and candlelit interiors contrast with the chaos of battle. Every frame feels like a painting.

  • Music (Terence Blanchard): The score pulses with life, blending African instrumentation with orchestral power. The drums echo the warriors’ heartbeat; the chants honor their spirit.

  • Editing: Crisp, kinetic, yet patient in moments of silence. Action never overshadows emotion.

Themes

The Woman King resonates because it is more than a war story—it is a meditation on:

  • Sisterhood: The bond of women standing together against oppression.

  • Legacy and Trauma: Nanisca’s scars mirror the scars of her people. Healing comes not by forgetting but by fighting forward.

  • Resistance: Against colonization, patriarchy, and destiny itself.

  • Sacrifice: Every victory carries loss, and every warrior knows the price.

Why the Re-Release Matters

In 2022, The Woman King stood out as a rare blockbuster centered on Black women, celebrating African history with authenticity and respect. Its re-release in 2025 feels timely, reminding audiences of the importance of stories that highlight voices often erased from mainstream narratives.

On the big screen, the film’s scale feels even more overwhelming. The battles demand to be experienced with booming sound and towering visuals. The emotions—sisterhood, grief, triumph—hit harder in a shared theater, where audiences breathe and gasp together.

Legacy

The Woman King belongs to the lineage of epics like Gladiator, Braveheart, and Black Panther. But it carves its own path by centering women, by grounding action in truth, and by refusing to shy away from history’s complexities.

It is a film future generations will study—not just as entertainment, but as cultural reclamation.

Conclusion

Re-released in 2025, The Woman King is as powerful and necessary as it was in 2022—perhaps more so. Viola Davis leads a cast that redefines what heroism looks like, while Gina Prince-Bythewood crafts an epic that is both ferocious and tender.

From the first spear to the last sunset, the film grips the soul, reminding us that courage is not the absence of fear but the will to face it.

Rating: 4.9/5 – A triumphant epic of courage, strength, and unity.
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