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One of many extra putting elements of 2018’s Black Panther was the Dora Milaje, the all-female military that served King T’Challa in Wakanda. What many might not know is that group was impressed by a real-life group of women warriors from the dominion of Dahomey, which was positioned in what’s now often called the West African nation of Benin for over 300 years.

That precise historical past — or a fictionalized model of it — involves life within the new movie The Woman King. The titular character is Normal Nanisca (Viola Davis), who leads a gaggle known as the Agojie, who shield Dahomey and King Ghezo (John Boyega). Nanisca is likely one of the main contenders to grow to be the Kpojito, aka Girl King, of Dahomey, a honorific bestowed by the king on a lady who can be thought of his equal.

A lot of the movie is dedicated to Nawi (Thuso Mbedu), a woman who’s turned over to the Agojie by her father after refusing an organized marriage. Nawi and different new potential troopers undergo intense coaching to be as much as the requirements of the group, which should tackle rival teams within the space just like the Oyo Empire, in addition to shield Dahomey from the ever-encroaching risk of slave merchants.

Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood and written by Dana Stevens, the movie is at its most profitable when coping with the Agojie as a substitute of the interior and exterior politics of Dahomey. The Agojie are filled with attention-grabbing characters, together with Nanisca, Nawi, Izogie (Lashana Lynch), Amenza (Sheila Atim), and Ode (Adrienne Warren). The movie thrives when exhibiting their conversations, preventing abilities, and camaraderie.

Issues get slowed down a bit when the story expands. It’s talked about that, as progressive for his or her time as they have been, Dahomey additionally aided and abetted the slave commerce, even promoting individuals from the Oyo and elsewhere. The thorniness of that revelation isn’t actually explored, one thing that turns into much more noticeable when two slave merchants — Santo Ferreira (Hero Fiennes Tiffin) and Malik Diallo (Jordan Bolger) — grow to be a giant a part of the story. Malik, the son of a slave and a slave dealer, is even offered as a doable romantic curiosity for Nawi, a subplot that’s wholly pointless.

The battle scenes are on par with any current good motion film, staged properly by Prince-Blythewood and Struggle Choreographer Jénel Stevens. As is turning into extra widespread, particularly with female-focused films, the crew is comprised of many ladies, together with Davis, Maria Bello (who additionally has a narrative credit score), and Cathy Schulman as producers. The eye paid to making sure all the feminine actors are represented properly all through the movie is obvious and appreciated.

Davis is as spectacular as actors come, however this function brings one thing fully totally different out of her. She is the image of energy in each demeanor and physique, embodying the a part of a normal in each approach one might think about. The remainder of the Agojie are additionally incredible, particularly Mbedu, Lynch, and Atim, with their chemistry collectively making them immediately likable. The boys are high quality, though Boyega makes for a less-than-compelling king.

The Girl King is but extra proof that, given the chance, girls can carry out as properly — if not higher — than their male counterparts at stereotypically male pursuits. The actual-life historic foundation for this explicit story brings that actuality into even additional aid.

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The Girl King opens in theaters on September 16.