![]() Boyega is as outstanding as he has ever been, proving to be both strong in the understated scenes and the others of grand oration. As the story progresses, he finds himself at a crossroads that will test his leadership. There is John Boyega’s King Ghezo who oversees the Agojie and the people they protect. Beyond Nawi and Nanisca, who begin to form a bond the more the two learn about each other, there are a whole host of other compelling characters that all shine. Following the opening, the story slows down and takes its time in developing all the rich details of its world. The film, while boasting many solidly constructed action setpieces, is also a coming-of-age character study of sorts. This isn’t always easy for Nawi, who we see is as fearless as she is headstrong, but that makes the emotional journey she goes on all the more engaging. Prince-Bythewood takes her time with this, showing how the fighters-in-training come to master both physical and mental discipline. It is not easy going as the training is rather grueling, ranging from exhausting long-distance running to intense combat training. While her father intended it as a punishment for her unwillingness to marry, it is here where she begins to discover much about herself and find a new family to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with. After being cast out by the patriarch of her family, the 19-year-old Nawi ( Thuso Mbedu) slowly becomes a part of this community of warriors. While Davis is certainly one of the leads and as commanding a screen presence as ever, we first begin to see her world through the eyes of another character. Based upon some of the real-life events that took place in The Kingdom of Dahomey in Africa in the 19th century, the film is an unabashed crowd-pleaser while still being light on its feet.
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