The stars of the movie said that it would have a particular impact with Irish viewers.
Released in cinemas here in October 2022, The Woman King is the kind of war movie that brings to mind the tremendous pairing of intense action sequences and fantastic performances.
While it was a relative minor box office success - from a $50 million budget it made $97.2 million worldwide, but over two-thirds of that came from North America alone - it did not receive the kind of attention that it very clearly deserved.
The movie tells the incredible true story of the Agojie, the all-female unit of warriors who protected the African Kingdom of Dahomey in the 1800s, each one with unparalleled skills elsewhere in the world at the time.
Under the watchful eye of General Nanisca (Viola Davis) as she trains the next generation of recruits, including new addition Nawi (Thuso Mbedu), she readies them for battle against an enemy determined to destroy their way of life.
Check out our interview with Davis and Mbedu right here:
The movie also stars Lashana Lynch, Sheila Atim and John Boyega (check out our interview with that trio right here), who told us at the time that this movie would have a particular impact with Irish viewers.
Racking up a score of 94% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, as well as a Best Actress Performance nomination at the Golden Globes for Davis, those who watched the movie had practically universally glowing things to report:
Consequence - "Come for the bloodshed, stay for the sisterhood. Like Black Panther before it, The Woman King immerses us in African culture; only this time, it shifts the focus to real-life women and proves, without the corny factor, that we have always been warriors."
The Playlist - "The Woman King is more than an action movie. It’s a film that depicts a side of African history that is rarely told and an opportunity for Black people to assert their humanity and regality."
Collider - "The Woman King is a film that has the confidence to be completely sincere in both the sharp moments of humor and the stunning battle sequences."
The Woman King is available to watch with a NOW Cinema Membership or on Sky Cinema right now.
