Inspiration for the movie
Producer and co-writer Maria Bello came up with the idea for the film during her trip to Benin. It was in this country that the royal Dahomey was located in the 19th century, which was the inspiration for the production. Fascinated, Bello decided to draw from the history of the African kingdom and create a story of brave Agojie warriors based on them.
The film was mainly shot in South Africa, where in November 2021 the production team and the cast spent over five months. For the first two weeks, the film was shot in the coastal province of KwaZulu-Natal. It was there that the unique shots of the jungle scenes were created, full of mystery and primeval beauty. The film’s crew then moved to Cape Town, where most of the rest of the filming was done.
Noteworthy are also carefully refined costumes that perfectly match the entire production. The costumes of the warriors of Agojie are particularly impressive, credibly and aesthetically, as well as functionally. Nana Afriyah, a designer from Ghana, who worked as a costume coordinator on the set of Warrior Queen, was of great help and support for the team. Nana Afriyah not only supervised the creation of the film’s costumes, but also engaged and led a team of local tailors and designers who perfectly captured the character of African warriors in each of the costumes.
Not only the cinematography and costumes are meticulously refined in the film, but also all the fight scenes. Here, the film crew was honored with the help of experienced stuntwoman Jénel Stevens, who helped design and polish the entire fight choreography, and also replaced Viola Davis in some scenes.
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The warrior queen – a tale of bravery
The plot of the movie Warrior Queen tells the story of the state of Dahomey, but above all about the group of its warriors, Agojie, who live in the royal palace, but in their own enclave, away from others. This group is tasked with protecting their country, including from the neighboring Oyo Empire. The main character of the film is the general of the division, Nanisca (Viola Davis), who not only bravely defends her lands and people, but also tries to convince her king Ghezo to give up the country’s participation in the slave trade.
The film shows the history of the entire kingdom and the squad, as well as individual heroes in an interesting, dynamic and emotional way; shows their struggles, relationships and attempts to make difficult decisions that have a significant impact on hundreds of other people. Warrior Queen is a story about bravery, fear and overcoming it, and striving to make changes for the better. The production is maintained in subdued, dark colors, and the suspenseful music is the perfect culmination of the whole story.
A timeless cast
Speaking of the cast of the film, it is impossible not to start with the lead actress, the title queen – Viola Davis, who plays her, is an Oscar and Golden Globe winner, nominated and awarded many times. Currently, she is best known for her roles in the films Plots and The Help and the TV series How to Get Away with Murder. In addition to Viola Davis, we can also see John Boyega in the film.
Also noteworthy are the filmmakers, including director Gina Prince-Bythewood and writers Maria Bello and Dana Stevens. The production of the film is the responsibility of, among others, the already mentioned Viola Davis, as well as Julius Tennon and Cathy Schulman, the winner of the Oscar®, which she received for the film Crash.
The premiere of the movie “Warrior Queen” will be shown in Polish cinemas on February 17, 2023.
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Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
