acid reflects

#TheWomanKing opens today in Philippine cinemas

Visceral, victorious, vogue (by that I mean Iconic, but had to v it)

Viola Davis is the fierce war general Nanisca of the Dahome, who leads the all-female Agojie to protect their kingdom against foreign and local aggressors.

Davis is expectedly intense, gripping the audience by the throat and never lets go.

If only the story revolved around her. And it’s short on historical accuracy so there’s that too.

Despite the title, TWK tells the deeper story of Nawi (Thuso Mbedu), a child-like young woman who refuses to settle for what men around her – at first, her father – tell her to do. Rejected by her own family, she is sent to the royal palace to be trained as one of the revered royal guards, the Agojie in the chance that they’ll take her in. Thus, a big chunk of the film is about her journey into womanhood and as Agojie, and what she eventually means to Nanisca.

But I love, love the Agojie especially the scene stealing Izogie (Lashana Lynch, from No Time to Die and Captain Marvel) and Amenza (Shiela Atim, who has an amazing voice.) With hardly any obvious big CGI scenes, it’s a delight to watch a story of such rich tapestry and vibrant sound translated onscreen.

The Woman King is rousing, crowd pleasing entertainment.
In cinemas today October 5.

Images courtesy of Columbia Pictures/ Columbia Pictures Philippines