Watch Warriors in Training in ‘The Woman King’ | Anatomy of a Scene

The intensity of the action epic “The Woman King,” starring Viola Davis and now in theaters, is balanced out with moments of levity, particularly in this training montage that sets up two key characters.
Nawi (Thuso Mbedu) has been dumped by her father at the palace in the Kingdom of Dahomey in 19th-century Africa. She is taken in and trained to become a part of a group of female soldiers. The woman leading the drills is Izogie (Lashana Lynch), whom Nawi ultimately tries to emulate.
“We’ve seen training montages before and they’re always fun and exciting,” the director Gina Prince-Bythewood said, narrating the scene. “What is going to make this one different?” She said putting the focus on the story of female warriors was “the element we haven’t seen.”
Prince-Bythewood’s approach, one she employed in her previous action film, “The Old Guard,” was to have actors perform their own stunts. In this sequence, that means performers have to pull off a flip in a couple of wrestling scenes. First, it’s Lynch flipping Mbedu, which Prince-Bythewood said came with a caveat: Mbedu would only agree to being flipped six times. But apparently the sixth time was the charm.
“You see it, she gets trucked,” Prince-Bythewood said.
The segment where Nawi gets to pull the same maneuver on Ode (Adrienne Warren), a fellow trainee, came with a surprise.
“The beauty of that moment, is at the end of the wrestling, Ode shoves Nawi,” Prince-Bythewood said. “That was not scripted. That was two actors so in the moment.”
Read the New York Times review: nyti.ms/3dm6Dwu
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[@mirianogbonna1854]

Great movie. The part she said” are we training to cook? You are cutting a body”😅

[@Insightofanauthor]

Watched it with my friends last weekend and by far the best movie I’ve seen this year so far. Planning to rewatch it with my girls

[@ozeflvsh4522]

They fought against the french to uphold the slave trade in Africa that made them rich and youre going to prop them up in front of little girls? Disgraceful

[@reactwithbri5703]

I just saw it at the movies last night and it was amazing!!!!❤

[@ozeflvsh4522]

@@reactwithbri5703 glorifying your enslaver good for you.

[@JohnSmith-px5nf]

“The best female army in the world” got destroyed by French forces in two hours lol

[@tiffanypersaud3518]

Those two moments were so cool and felt so real.

[@scribevisuals1090]

I like Gina's directing style. What she did with The Old Guard was amazing, as well as Beyond the Lights

[@DelphiaStrickland]

I absolutely love this movie, I'm glad I saw it in the theater!

[@peliayahyisrael3254]

Seen movie 4 times. Saw BP last night and need to watch Woman King again just to lift my mood after last night. Ogoye!

[@lawrencelou3545]

A great action movie.. don't make it.. what it is not.. if they want historical accuracy.. then let them watch a documentary..

[@benjaminpazrosas2839]

Hands down great movie, can't wait to go back home and go watch it with my wife again👍🏼

[@ChilePatagon]

de un pueblo esclavista jajaja

[@reactwithbri5703]

I saw this amazing movie last night at the movies and it’s my new favorite movie hands down!!! Just a movie showing black womens strength is what I look forward to seeing more of in the future❤

[@witchplease9695]

A great movie. The people that attacked this movie never watched it. They hate if for the same reason they hate Black Panther.

[@MoreTubContentOnMyChannel]

They're both garbage? I agree.

[@sigmasiren777]

@@MoreTubContentOnMyChannel I wasn't a fan of Black Panther but I remember seeing ppl hating on it even before it came out. I must say though, in My opinion, The Woman King has a much better script.

[@vincentfox4929]

The kingdom of Dahomey was a pro slavery state and they fought the Europeans to keep it a slavery kingdom. "The slave trade is the ruling principle of my people. It is the source and the glory of their wealth…the mother lulls the child to sleep with notes of triumph over an enemy reduced to slavery…" - King Gezo of Dahomey when the British tried to outlaw slavery.

[@pillowcases2292]

@@MoreTubContentOnMyChannel there not and people always hate on movies with black people

[@MoreTubContentOnMyChannel]

@@pillowcases2292 I loved Whoopi Goldberg in her 80's movies. Eddie Murphy. Will Smith. Of course Samuel L. Jackson. Many more! You're wrong and you know it. And you're wrong on purpose to be some victim. I'm done with your tired and incorrect replies to me. I'm out.

[@sokyblow5405]

i was wondering why lupita nyongo is not part of dis movie because of the documentary she did 2 yrs ago about the dahomeh people and the ogoje warriors.

[@calaragazza3556]

She didn’t want to be a part of the movie

[@sugarwaterpurple5280]

She dropped out but has never said why. People are assuming it's because of the documentary.

[@jordanrichelieu9204]

@@sugarwaterpurple5280 not really, she said it was because of what she see over there !! and also she mentioned that in the documental

[@sugarwaterpurple5280]

@@jordanrichelieu9204 No, she actually didnt. That's an assumption. In the documentary she said she saw them as brave but also victims, she didn't condemn them.

[@jordanrichelieu9204]

@@sugarwaterpurple5280 bro you watch the documentary but you try to deny ! bro she said the warrior women were victims of their kings but still she said they were brutal and they existence were based on crimes even if they were braves they were brutal and slavers that is what she said

[@dorisminter485]

Love the movie going to see it again

[@sigmasiren777]

Me too.

[@vincentfox4929]

The kingdom of Dahomey was a pro slavery state and they fought the Europeans to keep it a slavery kingdom. "The slave trade is the ruling principle of my people. It is the source and the glory of their wealth…the mother lulls the child to sleep with notes of triumph over an enemy reduced to slavery…" - King Gezo of Dahomey when the British tried to outlaw slavery.

[@vincentfox4929]

The kingdom of Dahomey was a pro slavery state and they fought the Europeans to keep it a slavery kingdom. "The slave trade is the ruling principle of my people. It is the source and the glory of their wealth…the mother lulls the child to sleep with notes of triumph over an enemy reduced to slavery…" - King Gezo of Dahomey when the British tried to outlaw slavery.

[@nibreezy4017]

If you watch the movie they explained that

[@sweataleishangthem1249]

@@nibreezy4017 I cried when the *attackers put a noose around Viola's neck, poured an unknown substance, likely bleach, on her and used their hands, feet and teeth as weapons to assault her* and yelled, _"This is MAGA country,"_

[@deebee4575]

@@nibreezy4017 And conveniently changed it

[@sannikemi5973]

But you and your people keep on blaming whites for slavery

[@jordanrichelieu9204]

@@nibreezy4017 no they did not They show that the europeans were the evil bad guys When Dahomey fight to keep slavery not to end it

[@beatpirate8]

I just watched it! Goosebumps! So powerful so moved. Everyone should watch this film to also learn. Bit about our world History and the terrible slave trade. So we don’t repeat this history again.

[@MoreTubContentOnMyChannel]

Also so everyone learns it was blacks that sold blacks, and white people owe nothing. No reparations.

[@ozeflvsh4522]

But the Dahomey played a major role in the enslavement of many and fought and died trying to protect the slave trade that made them rich.

[@JaydenLawrence_]

W movie

[@danteriche1629]

I’m saying

[@tanneradams20]

Why not tell the real story instead of something that’s literally 180 degree from what actually happened? Like there are people who literally the Dahomey were out there trying to save Africans when in reality they were one of the biggest slave trading, head hunting, and ritually cannibalistic tribes on the continent. Not to mention the Amazon legion was cut down by the French in the matter of one day after they continually invaded and enslaved a village that was under French protection

[@CreativeThinking52]

Thanks for sharing. I can't wait to see this movie. Have a great weekend. 👏

[@evp517]

This movie and its production truly shows how budget is everything in Hollywood. The only thing the movie really lacked was a bigger budget to do more and have better..better sound, better soundtrack, better language trainers so they could speak more like africans, specially Viola,,, otherwise, it was beautifully directed, the storyline is so interesting , telling a ancient yet modern related story of women, not just black, but any woman...but still it stayed true to the african ways.. i loved it. Jut wish it could have had a better sound,a more dramatic...

[@JohnSmith-px5nf]

The movie is ideologically charged. It celebrates modern feminism and black power movement. In other words, it has nothing to do with reality.

[@pHixiq]

really good movie ! Absolutely enjoyed it for what it was. Of course you are going to have the good ole folks who have issues with it because of what it is. But as a movie it genuinely was fantastic

[@vincentfox4929]

The kingdom of Dahomey was a pro slavery state and they fought the Europeans to keep it a slavery kingdom. "The slave trade is the ruling principle of my people. It is the source and the glory of their wealth…the mother lulls the child to sleep with notes of triumph over an enemy reduced to slavery…" - King Gezo of Dahomey when the British tried to outlaw slavery.

[@pHixiq]

@@vincentfox4929 yes thank you I know this. Thank you for going out of your way to downgrade the movie to fit your agenda. No one asked lmao

[@MoreTubContentOnMyChannel]

@@pHixiq thanks for giving you fake praise to feel good about yourself. The movie is pure trash. You probably comment "you look happy and amazing!!" on Lizzo posts as well. 🤣

[@colors6692]

@@pHixiq The movie downgraded the real history to fit with the producers agenda of presenting Black people as the good guys!

[@fehmanahsrafi7143]

@@pHixiq Imagine the outrage if the KKK had a movie but turned it into a heroic movie about how heroes or vigilante wear this white garb and go around saving the world how would you feel? Same concept.

[@faith2482]

This movie was amazing. ❤ Clearly some people in the comments haven’t watched the movie.

[@davidhansen4927]

Why watch a movie that glorifies slave traders and misrepresents history?

[@mscoralie1]

I loved it. People always find something negative to say.

[@MoreTubContentOnMyChannel]

I don't need to see the altered version of an historic event that's well recorded. How hard is that to grasp?

[@thatONEmachine]

NO THEY JUST KNOW THE HISTORY YOU DUMMY!

[@thatONEmachine]

What a stupid comment.

[@seebarnes6588]

Glamorizing slave traders seems awkward

[@A.nconner]

Actually watch the movie & y’all will see and hear how they admit that they were part of the disgrace & wanted to end the cycle.

[@davidhansen4927]

@@A.nconner still not even close to historically accurate. 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@Victory987]

@@A.nconner no, they were defeated. They were the OGs of the west African slave trade. Every slave in America came them.

[@moose43h]

Women can do no wrong

[@pump1180]

@@davidhansen4927 it’s not a documentary it’s not suppose to be historically accurate 😂…. This is Hollywood not national geographic. We talking about the same company that claimed Elvis was the best rock singer in the world even tho he didn’t even write half his songs nor did he originate the genre it came from black people. But they made a movie about him and probably left that but out yet I see no one complaining about that 😂

[@xionatimouski7870]

Very nice movie very nice❤

[@kimd687]

So good! Loved it

[@1HourOf.]

Loved it

[@ryufight7987]

Good movie definitely entertaining . But 🤣 they made them seem as hero,s , while in reality they where slavers But 😛 I guess that doesn't really matter

[@mariamebenazir5378]

Respect

[@GilbyMinaj]

Incredible woman of human history

[@Towerwatson525]

Whatever happened to the NYT? what a joke of woke leftist vacuous void!

[@thatONEmachine]

The contract with the CIA doesn't help.

[@degalatarian]

its just a movie right winger

[@tommybull6578]

Nothing to glorify.

[@richlisola1]

Skilled combat is glory.

[@marinam1660]

@@richlisola1 Selling people for cigarettes and spices isn’t glory

[@Gemini053]

@@marinam1660 This obviously isn’t the movie to watch for historical accuracy. You should have known that going in.

[@witchplease9695]

You never watched the movie.

[@davidmoloi]

The only amazing thing about this video is the number of dislikes it has garnered 😂

[@greyson_j0617]

They altered history for the narrative of the story

[@nompruddy7979]

Izogie is a giant compared to nawi

[@rustyspygoat4089]

How "woke" can I be today

[@chrismaxfield5484]

Historical films make you “woke”🤔😅

[@rustyspygoat4089]

@whatever stay mad the queen was a great woman! She lead with power and mercy. You should see how some African leaders treat their own people in this modern age. Still slavery, corruption and lack of human rights. But funny how we ignore the reality of the real problems in the world and instead look at the how bad the "white man has been". And it's never told through a balanced viewpoint, or taking historical context into account. It's always a narrative of bad, racist, evil, white man who persecuted the innocent, Peaceful, natural, heavenly black man. If you are a white person and agree with this narrative then you must accept your inherent bigotry and evilness. And if you don't agree with this narrative then you are also a bigot and evil. That is the splendor and pure stupidity of the woke...

[@TheGreenLineNews]

👎

[@ashiyaken3852]

Your cutting a body not a yam

[@gracegerevox8137]

Fantastic

[@forgetfuljade]

A woman king is typically called Queen.

[@thatONEmachine]

I wonder who did the choreography for the slave auction?

[@lawoull.6581]

Jesus is king...ty

[@moose43h]

Fake history

[@pump1180]

Its not a documentary 😂 calm down….

[@user-zi6hh6lh9m]

Can you report that Xiaomi sells a large number of defective mobile phones in China? There is a problem of large-scale burning of motherboards, but they didn't recall its defective products. Moreover, Xiaomi mobile phones secretly changed the after-sales policy, but did not inform consumers. they only repair the motherboard for this phone, and then only give it a three-month warranty, but this phone has a very high failure rate. Mobile phone repair shops claim that about 50% of the Xiaomi Mi 11 series have serious defects. They often see many customers coming for repairing these phones. The number of hot searches has reached 70 million in China's Weibo, but it has been pressed by Xiaomi. Millions of Xiaomi Mi 11 series phone users are facing a dilemma with nowhere to go now. The security risks of this mobile phone are also worrying, which reminds me of the spontaneous combustion incident of Samsung Note7. Now Xiaomi is trying to cover up the scandal.

[@leyland2725]

Smh everyone saying this movie was great is hilarious when it seriously bombed and no one went to see it 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣