The Woman King (2022)
Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood
The story of the Agojie, the all-female unit of warriors who protected the African Kingdom of Dahomey in the 1800s with skills and a fierceness unlike anything the world has ever seen, and General Nanisca as she trains the next generation of recruits and readies them for battle against an enemy determined to destroy their way of life.
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6 films that influenced The Woman King
What critics say influenced The Woman King
Reportedly, GPB was inspired by films like Braveheart (1995), Gladiator (2000), and The Last of the Mohicans (1992) which are powerful action epics with strong emotional resonance.
The story of the Agojie (also called Amazons by Europeans) and their role during King Ghezo’s reign is akin to the stuff of Braveheart and Lawrence of Arabia : a fight for justice and freedom, unlikely odds of success, and highly choreographed action.
From Spartacus to Braveheart, they employ men both in front of and behind the camera.
Bound to draw comparisons to semi-similar works such as Braveheart and Gladiator , in the end, The Woman King sits capably on a throne of its creation.
Reportedly, GPB was inspired by films like Braveheart (1995), Gladiator (2000), and The Last of the Mohicans (1992) which are powerful action epics with strong emotional resonance.
So, when an actress like Meryl Streep chose to do Mamma Mia! and people were aghast, I was thrilled because it felt like a project she wanted to do, rather than one she felt she had to.
Ben-Hur , Gladiator , Master and Commander , Saving Private Ryan , Barry Lyndon , etc.
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If you search “movies about African history,” the first two results are Hidden Figures and One Night in Miami… ) If the script had been more open to ambiguity, we might be discussing this historical epic until the Oscars, but perhaps it has done something more valuable: It told a story that will be brand new to most viewers in an accessible way.
Now, they are likely to inspire future generations, as Prince-Bythewood (a director for whom reach is easy, having come off Netflix's world-spanning film "The Old Guard") gives these women the iconic treatment: Rigorous training montages and other rites of passage.
Thankfully, director Gina Prince-Bythewood ( Love & Basketball, The Old Guard ) and legend Viola F. Davis have finally brought their war stories to our screens.
Gina Prince-Bythewood is a director that I’ve fallen in love with, and thanks to work on The Old Guard, I’ve been wanting to see her tackle more action sequences.
Already proving that she is more than capable of making thrilling action films with The Old Guard , Prince-Bythewood showcases her gift for storytelling once again with The Woman King .
Director Gina Prince-Bythewood ( Beyond the Lights , The Old Guard ) has crafted a film that feels both like a return to the sort of films that don’t get made anymore and an astounding new achievement.
Director Gina Prince-Bythewood already proved she knows how to handle action with “The Old Guard.”