Wed, 20:54: THE WOMAN KING is an excellent movie when taken at face value, as a mainstream entertainment that breaks new ground which should not be discounted. But that only truly works when you are either fully ignorant of, or willfully ignore, the historical record. Thus, while I still absolutely recommend THE WOMAN KING as a great movie, reading at least a little about the real 19th-century African societies featured therein is also highly recommended. This fantastic piece in The New Yorker by Julian Lucas is a great place to start.
Point:
“Why should 'The Woman King' be held to a moral standard ignored by the thousands of period dramas about violent Western states?
It shouldn’t, of course. Dahomey’s complex history can no more be reduced to slave-raiding than England’s."
Counterpoint:
"Some might argue that such liberties don’t matter, especially if they’re in service of empowering women, educating audiences, and enjoying the cast’s prowess in martial arts. But it’s no use elevating marginalized narratives if you’re going to mangle them."
Sisterhood and Slavery in “The Woman King”
Viola Davis’s new feature is a rousing tribute to the world’s only all-female army. But how true is the story it tells?
