the woman king christian movie review

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The Woman King Review

• Thread starter RDKirk
• Start date Sep 19, 2022

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• Sep 19, 2022
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I had misgivings about this movie based on three issues, but I heard such good early reviews that my wife and I went to see it so that we'd be able to critique it intelligently. First, as a movie, The Woman King is excellently produced and excellently acted. It's got a great "Hero's Journey" that sucks you right into rooting for the central characters. No Mary Sues in this movie. Direction is excellent. It barely shows the relatively small 50 million budget...they smartly got full use out of every dollar. It's effective from the aspect of presenting a well-produced movie with PG-13 violence and no sex or profanity. I actually think this may be a better produced movie than Wakanda Forever will be. Wakanda Forever will show the effect of a huge budget, but I'm not sure Wakanda Forever will be a better movie, and it will certainly hit the same SJW propaganda points. There were a couple of writing issues, primarily around the murky court intrigue with the favorite wife in conflict with general Nanisca of the Agojie, the all-female warrior unit. That court intrigue played into the king's decision at the very end of the movie, but the writing doesn't make it clear. There was also a bit of soap opera that wasn't really necessary, and in a real military would cause a big moral and discipline problem later on. Spoiler: What "the Woman King" title means The Dahomey did not have the concept of a female regent and no word for it. The king had wives, but those were not "queens"--they had no political power. This is no different from the state of king's wives in ancient Israel. Toward the end of the movie, the king orders General Nanisca to accept the loss of a number of members (including her close friends and secret daughter) to their old enemy the Oyo and Portuguese slavers. She and the Agojie loyal to her openly disobey the king's order and perform the rescue anyway, finally destroying their Oyo enemy in the process. The king, facing the prospect of attempting to execute or exile the hugely popular and more capable general (which would certainly cause a tribal civil war) at the last minute creates the position of female king to sit beside him as co-regent...as though it had been his idea all along. The three big issues I had going in...I still had coming out. The inaccuracy of the history was the big one. The Dahomey were villains, not heroes or victims. They are still the forever villains of Africa the way Nazis are the forever villains of Europe. The story tries to make it appear that they were forced into being slavers by the Oyo tribe (to which they were a vassal) and stopped slaving at the end of this movie, but, no, it didn't happen like that. They remained slavers for another half century after the period this movie purports to portray. This is rather like a very well done movie about imagined heroic exploits of the Ku Klux Klan...Hollywood did that movie, too: Birth of a Nation. The second issue was the trope of the media depicting black women, particularly dark-skinned black women, as masculine and violent. This movie continues that trope, and it added another trope that if a black women is feminine, then she's evil and conniving. According to this movie, black men are either a combination of weak and stupid or a combination of savage and stupid. There is no favorable image of black people or black families in this movie...except masculine and violent black woman "who don't need no man." And there is still the trope of the Great White Savior. His role is fairly small, and he's not entirely white, but he's still essential to their victory. Let me say now, that contrary to the trailer (spoiler!) there is no love interest. They got close, but that kissing scene in the trailer is not in the movie. So, this movie provides us with the same kind of action and victorious emotion as, say, Braveheart...but with women instead of men. It's exciting, but what's it saying about black people? Most of the audience won't get it. The theater was packed when we saw it, mostly black women, who gave it a standing ovation at the end.  

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Mt 9:13..."I desire mercy, not sacrifice"...

Thanks for the review. My wife is about 50% African American and would most likely appreciate watching it.  

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Parents' guide to, the woman king.

• Common Sense Says
• Parents Say 10 Reviews
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Common Sense Media Review

Memorable, historic, violent tale of African women warriors.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that The Woman King is an empowering historical adventure drama that follows Nanisca, the general (Viola Davis) of a 19th century West African all-female royal guard called the Agojie. The Agojie of the Kingdom of Dahomey (what's now Benin) -- the inspiration for the Dora Milaje in

Why Age 15+?

Lots of fight/battle scenes with a high body count. Battles are intense (bloody

The Agojie are expected to be virgins. A man shows an interest in a young Agojie

"Bitches" is shown in subtitles; insults include "worthless," "lazy," "stubborn,

Adults drink at a feast. One Agojie, who drinks from a small flask, makes a joke

Any Positive Content?

Positive representation of an African kingdom that had an all-women king's guard

The leaders of the Agojie -- Nanisca, Amenza, and Izogie -- are firm and demandi

Promotes courage, perseverance, and teamwork, making it clear that these highly

Parents need to know that The Woman King is an empowering historical adventure drama that follows Nanisca, the general ( Viola Davis ) of a 19th century West African all-female royal guard called the Agojie. The Agojie of the Kingdom of Dahomey (what's now Benin) -- the inspiration for the Dora Milaje in Black Panther -- fought off hostile tribes from bordering nations. Expect a high body count, with lots of fighting and intense, often bloody warfare. The Agojie use ropes, spears, finely sharpened fingernails, and other weapons in scenes that show dead bodies. A few of the deaths are particularly upsetting. There are also flashbacks to sexual assault and one moment when a suitor strikes a young woman he's courting. Language isn't frequent but includes "bitches" in subtitles. Adults drink, a man's partially nude body (bare behind, back, chest, abs) is visible, and there are scenes that show embracing and imply that characters had sex. The film is a labor of love from critically acclaimed filmmaker Gina Prince-Bythewood ( Love and Basketball and The Old Guard ). Families will want to research the history of the "Dahomey Amazons" to compare what's been written about the elite army with the film's plot.

To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Violence & Scariness

Lots of fight/battle scenes with a high body count. Battles are intense (bloody wounds, stabbings, slit throats, shots of dead bodies, etc.) and full of moments when it seems like a character is going to die. A couple of deaths (both real and presumed) are particularly emotional. Weapons used in full-scale battle scenes include spears, curved knives, ropes, and muskets -- and a particularly bloody use of sharpened fingernails. Domestic/sexual violence includes an older suitor punching a young woman he's expressing marital interest in, and flashbacks to a woman remembering being repeatedly raped.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

The Agojie are expected to be virgins. A man shows an interest in a young Agojie in training, who catches him naked when he's bathing in a river. His partially nude body (bare behind, back, chest, abs) is visible. They eventually speak, exchange longing looks, and in subsequent scenes are shown embracing and later in what's an implied post-sex scene. The king gives affectionate attention to a few different wives.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

"Bitches" is shown in subtitles; insults include "worthless," "lazy," "stubborn," "old woman."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Adults drink at a feast. One Agojie, who drinks from a small flask, makes a joke that the only good thing the White men bring is whiskey.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Diverse Representations

Positive representation of an African kingdom that had an all-women king's guard. (The Agojie are little known in mainstream media.) Women have agency and are shown to be strong, smart, capable, and brave. The movie's only White characters are involved in the transatlantic slave trade; the movie also depicts Africans who sold other Africans to slave traders. A biracial Brazilian character identifies as Black once he's back in Dahomey and helps Nawi and sides with the Agojie. Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, a Black woman.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update .

Positive Role Models

The leaders of the Agojie -- Nanisca, Amenza, and Izogie -- are firm and demanding but also encouraging and willing to teach young women from other tribes and villages. Nawi is brave, curious, and strong-willed, although also occasionally reckless and defiant. All of the women are strong, smart, capable, and brave.

Positive Messages

Promotes courage, perseverance, and teamwork, making it clear that these highly trained women warriors are every bit as capable, imposing, and successful as men. Values the abilities of women (particularly women over 30) and people of color. Stresses historical importance of abolitionist attitudes and the negative impact of colonization and the slave trade.

Where to Watch

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Parent and Kid Reviews

• Parents say (10)
• Kids say (10)

Based on 10 parent reviews

Heroic Blockbuster violence ( glosses over details about Slavery)

A well-made movie has intense, brutal violence, what's the story.

Writer-director Gina Prince-Bythewood 's drama THE WOMAN KING was inspired by the real-life Agojie, an elite, all-women royal guard of the Kingdom of Dahomey (West Africa) in the 19th century. The film's story follows the group's influential general, Nanisca ( Viola Davis ), whose warriors must fight off the neighboring tribe that's trying to conquer them and sell more and more people into enslavement. The Agojie, who live on the royal grounds, dedicate themselves to their sisterhood and to King Ghezo ( John Boyega ), forsaking the possibility of marriage or children. The film explores how Nanisca; her second-in-command, Amenza (Sheila Atim); protege Igozie ( Lashana Lynch ); and the rest of the guard train recruits -- young women who are either brought from neighboring villages in conflict with Dahomey or presented to the king by their fathers. One promising upstart is the strong-willed Nawi (Thuso Mbedu), who questions authority. Nanisca's mission to protect Dahomey grows urgent as the twin threats of the rival tribe and White enslavers imperil the kingdom's future.

Is It Any Good?

This powerful, poignant film with an excellent cast led by Davis celebrates Black sisterhood and strength. If you had any doubt that women over 55 can be fierce warriors, seeing Michelle Yeoh in Everything Everywhere All at Once and now Davis in The Woman King should disabuse you of that uncertainty. Davis is flat-out phenomenal as General Nanisca, bringing her characteristic gravitas and charisma to the role. The other warriors are also wonderful, particularly Atim, an award-winning British actor who should be cast in a leading role as soon as possible, and Lynch, best known for her Captain Marvel role, who's imposing but also funny and generous. Both give scene-stealing performances and more than hold their own with Davis. South African newcomer Mbedu is compelling and well cast as the ambitious young recruit ready to prove her worth.

The movie's action scenes are tautly shot by cinematographer Polly Morgan, who makes the most of the weaponry and landscape. Gersha Phillips' costume design is gorgeous, and Terence Blanchard's propulsive score -- a collaboration with South African producer, composer, and singer Lebo M -- deftly uses African percussion and themes. Although there's a slightly unnecessary romance, the movie's plot manages to balance action sequences with moments of character development, friendship, and historical reflection. Prince-Bythewood has been a critically acclaimed filmmaker for many years, and it's thrilling that she's continuing to demonstrate her skill at eliciting great performances from character-driven dramas.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the violence in The Woman King . Do you think it's necessary to the story?

Does the movie make you interested in the historical background of the Kingdom of Dahomey?

Talk about the similarities between the Dora Milaje and the Agojie. Is it clear that the Black Panther squad was inspired by the Dahomey king's guard?

How is the slave trade depicted in the movie? What did you learn from watching?

Movie Details

• In theaters : September 16, 2022
• On DVD or streaming : December 13, 2022
• Cast : Viola Davis , Hero Fiennes Tiffin , Lashana Lynch
• Director : Gina Prince-Bythewood
• Inclusion Information : Female directors, Black directors, Female actors, Black actors, Female writers
• Studio : TriStar Pictures
• Genre : Action/Adventure
• Topics : Friendship , History
• Character Strengths : Courage , Perseverance , Teamwork
• Run time : 135 minutes
• MPAA rating : PG-13
• MPAA explanation : sequences of strong violence, some disturbing material, thematic content, brief language and partial nudity
• Awards : Common Sense Selection , NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Nominee
• Last updated : August 22, 2024

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Suggest an Update

What to watch next.

Black Panther

Wonder Woman

Everything Everywhere All at Once

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The Woman King

From the moment Gina Prince-Bythewood became a director, her strength has always resided in her commitment to love stories. In her films, sumptuous twilight passions happen on a basketball court, they occur between generations, on the ladder rungs of show business, and between immortals. They center Black women carrying power and interiority, while finding strength within themselves, and often, other Black women. With her Netflix produced film, " The Old Guard ," she continued those themes on a grander scale. But nothing in her filmography can wholly prepare you for the lushness of her latest work. 

In going into "The Woman King," a big-hearted action-epic whose major challenge is being sincere and historical while fulfilling its blockbuster requirements, you might feel some hesitation. Especially in a cinematic landscape that prizes broad statements on race over sturdy storytelling. You might wonder how Prince-Bythewood can shape a tale centering the Agojie warriors—an all-woman group of soldiers sworn to honor and sisterhood—hailing from the West African kingdom of Dahomey, when one considers their hand in perpetuating the transatlantic slave trade. It's a towering task approached by Prince-Bythewood and screenwriter Dana Stevens with gentle sensitivity, and a fierce desire to show Black women as the charters of their own destiny. 

The film begins with flair: A group of men lounge at the center of a field by a campfire. They hear rustling in the tallgrass; they see a flock of birds fly away on a breeze. Suddenly a menacing Viola Davis playing Nanisca, the world-weary Agojie general, emerges from the grass armed with a machete. An entire platoon then appears behind her. The ensuing slaughter of the men (the women in the village are left unharmed), is soaked in delirious gore, and is part of this warrior ensemble's mission to free their imprisoned kin. Nanisca, however, loses so many comrades in the process that she decides to train a new batch of recruits. 

After the thrilling opening battle scene, the plot to "The Woman King" can feel convoluted. But its excesses serve the film's blockbuster goals. A defiant teenager, Nawi ( Thuso Mbedu ), is offered up as a gift to the young King Ghezo ( John Boyega ) by her domineering father, who is frustrated with his obstinate daughter's refusal to marry her many suitors. Nawi, however, never makes it to the King, as the unflinching yet fun warrior Izogie (a phenomenal Lashana Lynch ), sees Nawi's resistance as a strength, and enlists her in Nanisca's training. Being part of the Agojie promises freedom to all involved, but not to those they conquer. The defeated are offered as tribute to the draconian Oyo Empire, who then deal their fellow Africans as slaves to Europeans in exchange for guns. It's a circle of oppression that the guilt-ridden Nanisca wants the King to break. In the meantime, a dream has haunted Nanisca, and the disobedient Nawa, who struggles with upholding some of Agojie clan's strict requirements, particularly the "No Men" part. It might be the key to what ails her.       

Despite these clunky narrative beats—there's a twist halfway through that nearly causes the story to fall apart—the sheer pleasure of "The Woman King" resides in the bond shared by these Black women. They are the film's love story as they commit to each other as much as they do to their grueling training. Vast compositions of Black women caring and nurturing each other proliferate "The Woman King," and the rituals and songs they share adds further layers to their deep devotion. 

Prince-Bythewood isn't afraid to rely on emotional heft in an action movie. Every actor in this deep ensemble is granted their own space; they're organically challenged but never artificially wielded as a teaching tool for white audiences. Sheila Atim , who along with Mbedu turned in a stellar performance in Barry Jenkins ' " The Underground Railroad ," is measured, aware, and giving as Nanisca's trusted second-in-command Amenza. Boyega is commanding yet beguiling as a king projecting confidence while still learning what it means to lead (many of his line readers are instantly quotable). 

"The Woman King," however, is quite messy. The overuse of VFX for landscapes, fake extras, and fire often flattens the compositions by cinematographer Polly Morgan ; she finds greater latitude in capturing the bruising yet precise fight choreography. And the low-simmering romance that emerges between Nawa and Malik, a ripped Portuguese-Dahomen fantasy ( Jordan Bolger ) returning to discover his roots, while clear in its intent to test Nawa's dedication to her sisters, is unintentionally comical in its awkwardness. The script far too often also tries to neatly tie together these characters, especially Nawi and Nanisca. 

But when "The Woman King" works, it's majestic. The tactile costumes by Gersha Phillips ("Star Trek Discovery") and the detailed production design by Akin McKenzie ("Wild Life" and " When They See Us ") feel lived in and vibrant, especially in the vital rendering of the Dahomey Kingdom, which is teeming with scenes of color and community. Terilyn A. Shropshire 's slick, intelligent editing allows this grand epic to breathe. And the evocative score by Terence Blanchard and Lebo M. gives voice to the Agojie's fighting spirit. 

Though Davis is the movie's obvious star, turning in an aching and psychically demanding performance that's matched pound for pound with her interiority, Mbedu reaffirms herself as a star too. She gives herself over to the tale of a woman who so desires to be heard that she never backs down to anyone. A glimmer follows Mbedu in her every line read, and gloom follows her in devastation. There's one scene where she cries over the body of a fallen warrior and lets out a wail with an impact that travels from your toes to your spleen. 

The subplots in "The Woman King" might undo it for some. But the magnitude and the awe this movie inspires are what epics like " Gladiator " and " Braveheart " are all about. They're meant for your heart to override your brain, to pull you toward a rousing splendor, to put a lump in your throat. In between the large, sprawling battles of "The Woman King," and in between the desire to not yield to white outside forces and the urge to topple oppressive and racist systems, the guide is sisterly love, Black love. Thrilling and enrapturing, emotionally beautiful and spiritually buoyant, "The Woman King" isn't just an uplifting battle cry. It's the movie Prince-Bythewood has been building toward throughout her entire career. And she doesn't miss.  

This review was filed from the Toronto International Film Festival on September 10th. "The Woman King" opens on September 16th.

Robert Daniels

Robert Daniels is an Associate Editor at RogerEbert.com. Based in Chicago, he is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association (CFCA) and Critics Choice Association (CCA) and regularly contributes to the  New York Times ,  IndieWire , and  Screen Daily . He has covered film festivals ranging from Cannes to Sundance to Toronto. He has also written for the Criterion Collection, the  Los Angeles Times , and  Rolling Stone  about Black American pop culture and issues of representation.

• Viola Davis as Nanisca
• Thuso Mbedu as Nawi
• Lashana Lynch as Izogie
• Sheila Atim as Amenza
• John Boyega as King Ghezo
• Hero Fiennes Tiffin as Santo Ferreira
• Jayme Lawson as

Writer (story by)

• Dana Stevens
• Maria Bello
• Gina Prince-Bythewood
• Terence Blanchard

Cinematographer

• Polly Morgan
• Terilyn A. Shropshire

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