The Woman King (2022) - full transcript

A historical epic inspired by true events that took place in The Kingdom of Dahomey, one of the most powerful states of Africa in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Agojie! Agoj...

Agojie!

No!

Where are the prisoners?

Where are our people?

We are farmers. We took no one!

Miganon.

You will be home soon.

Horses.

That can only mean

Oyo soldiers.

Who is she?

My mother.

We will take you back

to your village.

-Perhaps your father...

-They sold him.

And my brothers.

They sold them all.

Miganon.

The prisoners are ready

to march.

Bring me stronger warriors.

Thank you.

It doesn't matt... Nawi!

-Yeah?

-Tell your mother

to see me for the dress.

What dress?

Your wedding dress.

I will make you beautiful.

Tell her.

They have made you

another match?

I don't know what

she's talking about.

They are coming.

Let's go.

Come here!

- Daughter! Come!

- My daughter!

My sister!

My sister!

Mother!

I'm so happy to see you.

-But I want to see.

-Shh!

The king does not allow us

to look upon the Agojie.

Nanisca.

It is a victory.

They are here for you.

They do not know

an evil is coming.

They know

you will protect them.

I wish to speak to the king.

He's only seeing wives today.

Tell him. I will wait.

The Agojie drink

from the skulls

of the men they have killed.

-No.

They cut off their heads

and melt off their skin

in boiling hot cauldrons.

-Sister! Sister!

-Nawi.

-Hmm?

-We have a visitor.

It's a rich man from Cana.

Come.

Come.

Maybe he is handsome.

I own three fields

of palm trees.

You will work.

You do not talk

to your husband?

In my house,

you will learn to obey.

Nawi!

Forgive my daughter.

The whispers were right.

This...

girl is worthless.

Master Abade.

Come!

I wish to give my daughter

to the king.

No husband will have her.

I will not marry an old man

who beats me.

Go to war, then.

You will understand

what pain is.

Enter.

In the palace,

you do not have to look away.

Come.

Close your mouth.

You look like a fish.

What's in there?

Indigo dye.

Oh.

What did you think it was?

Heads.

No.

Those are the heads.

Some of the men

who raided our village.

The rest will be sold

in Ouidah.

No men but the eunuchs

are allowed

in the palace after dark.

Beyond this wall,

this is a palace of women.

Come.

Hey.

Go and bathe yourselves.

Oyo, can you see this?

Your comrades murdered...

by women.

The Dahomey grow too bold

under their new king.

My loves.

My loves.

My love.

My love.

Nanisca, come with me.

Why does he always favor her?

She comes here filthy,

shows no respect.

She fought for him

during the coup.

Put him on the throne.

What did you do?

Locked yourself in a cupboard.

The Oyo have entered our land.

They have broken the peace.

When they come for the tribute,

we will not pay it.

-But that would mean war.

-Migan, we have been

under the foot of the Oyo

since my father's time.

Are you not tired? Eh?

Oh, because we...

we fear their might.

Because of fear.

My king, they are a nation

twice our size,

with horses and more muskets.

We need time to plan

and prepare our armies.

The Agojie are ready.

How many did you lose

in this last battle

against the lowly Mahi?

My king, I hear whispers

of a new general.

This last attack

was sword rattling.

Nothing more.

I agree.

Dahomey has prospered

in the peace.

And the Oyo, too.

The slave trade

is the reason we prosper.

But at what price?

It is a poison

slowly killing us,

and the Europeans know this.

They come to our land

for their human cargo.

They've come to trade.

We sell them what they want.

But why do we sell

our captives?

For weapons?

To capture more people

to sell for more weapons?

It is a dark circle

with no end.

This is not the way.

The spirits have spoken.

Ifá seeks light.

So, what do you suggest,

Nanisca?

We have other things to sell.

Gold. Palm oil.

We can double our harvest.

She wants to make us

a nation of peasants.

I want Dahomey to survive.

The gods have brought us

a new king.

A king to be feared.

No one fears a farmer.

We have already started

to gather the tribute.

Perhaps we pay, to buy us time.

I promise...

this will be our last.

As for the palm oil,

Nanisca, show me.

Show me how much you can

produce, and we will see.

You speak in secret

to the king.

You seek to cut me out.

If the king respects me,

it is because I have earned it.

Gboje.

I am Amenza.

You come to the palace

of Ghezo,

the ninth monarch

of the Dahomey people,

descendants of

the leopard Agasu,

beloved of the twin gods,

Mawu and her brother Lisa.

You are called to join

the King's Guard.

We fight...

or we die.

We fight for Dahomey,

for our sisters,

for our great king.

You will be revered.

You will be paid for your work.

Your opinions will be heard.

No tribe or kingdom

in all of Africa

shares this privilege.

For this honor,

we live out our lives

in these palace walls.

We take no husband.

We will bear no children.

Mahi women,

no harm will come to you

for the sins of your men.

I offer you and our people

a choice.

Any woman who does not wish

to stay...

...may leave.

I can't continue with this one.

You're talking vodun.

You don't want to listen.

No, you want to laugh.

Do not touch

another warrior's weapon.

Mm. Especially that one.

It is cursed.

Esi couldn't hit an elephant

in a stampede.

Turn your back and see

how true my aim is.

-Ah, me?

Mm.

Spent all my liberties

walking the river

till I found

the perfect whetstone.

Shaped smooth by the waterfall.

Sharpens to a thorn.

Pop out their eyeballs,

fight is over.

They are also useful in keeping

the trainees in line.

Why have you not bathed?

You are going to bring

the buzzards.

-I let the others go before me.

-Ah.

The first rule of training:

always obey Izogie.

I am Izogie.

I'm sorry.

You may stay.

You are one of

the captives we freed?

No. My father brought me.

As a gift to the king.

Is your father rich?

He must be.

Otherwise, he would have

sold you to a rich husband.

He tried.

I do not want a husband.

I want to be a soldier.

-An Agojie.

-How old are you?

I have 19 years.

You look like a child.

I work hard.

Harder than anyone.

Many obstinate daughters

are dumped at the palace.

They usually fail.

All our lives, they...

they tell us stories

about the Agojie.

That you have magic.

You look like

a regular old woman to me.

Fighting is not magic.

It is skill.

We will see if you have any.

I am not a soldier.

Then why did you stay?

I have nowhere else to go.

You are Mahi.

Why did you stay?

Here, I will be the hunter,

not prey.

Today, you are receiving

your first weapon.

Not good.

Ah, good.

Again.

A rope is not a weapon.

You wish for

a different weapon?

Stand up.

Go. Attack the soldier.

Take his head.

-I apologize.

-Do not apologize. Do it.

I'd work on that rope.

Hey. Tsetse.

Who's Tsetse?

You, little fly.

Buzzing around full speed.

But you don't know

where you are going.

We need smart warriors.

The dumb ones die quickly.

I'm not dumb.

-Then show me.

You have to train different.

The drills are a game.

It is play,

like when you were a child.

I was not allowed to play.

I was made to work.

Such a sad tale.

You don't know anything.

You know, when I had 14 years,

my mother put a sign out

to sell my virginity.

The first man came,

and I cried for my mother,

but she didn't come.

The second man came

and complained of my tears,

so she beat me.

The third man came,

and I burned him with an ember.

Your family was cruel,

as was my mother.

It is enough to make you cry.

But it is better to laugh. Yes?

You have a new family now.

Trainees, we will prepare you

for the final test.

You will perform your

battle skills before the king.

Those who pass the test

will become Agojie.

And those who fail

will leave the palace,

never to return.

Hey, look at you.

The Oyo will catch you,

hang you by your feet

and cut your throat.

Use your feet and walk!

Get up.

You are just waiting to die.

Are we training to cook?

You are cutting a body,

not a yam.

Swing with purpose.

Ready. Fire!

Good, Ode.

- Get out!

- Nawi, you move like a sloth.

That's right.

Dahomey!

Izogie!

Agojie!

Fumbe.

Show me how to tie the rope.

Never.

It is the only thing

I can do better than you.

Ode, this one.

But did you see Izogie?

With the dagger here.

She's standing there,

not moving, not in pain.

- Wow.

- I love it.

I'm going to be like her.

Yes, my friend.

-As strong as her.

-Mm-hmm.

You try to stab me,

I'll stab you back.

Yeah.

Backswing.

Which of you designed

this trick?

Hmm?

-Then you will all be punished.

-I did it.

-We all did it.

-No.

It was me.

I apologize.

Once again.

Go back to the barracks.

How do you make this explosion?

You do not need guns

to use gunpowder.

We just need a spark.

You like the guns?

Do you enjoy practicing

with the men in the infantry?

I see you flirting.

-This is not allowed?

-You know it is not.

Why not?

The men who are soldiers

have wives and children,

but the Agojie cannot.

How is that fair?

Were you this arrogant

with your family?

No wonder they gave you away.

It is you who is arrogant.

I am a general.

I have earned it.

You have earned nothing.

I should put you out.

-No.

-I have watched soldiers die

because they did not

have discipline.

Their easy life

did not prepare them for

-this life here as an Agojie.

-I did not have an easy life.

I did not have an easy life.

Please.

I-I want to be here

with the others.

I want to fight for my king.

Please.

Your tears mean nothing.

To be a warrior,

you must kill your tears.

Go.

Ah.

Go.

Hey.

You are a Mahi prisoner.

That is all you will ever be.

What did you say?

-She killed our people.

-You killed mine.

Me, I also came here a captive.

Do you think yourself

better than me?

No, Ajahi.

If you make it

through the final test,

you are one of us.

No matter where you come from.

Hmm.

Hey, Tsetse.

Eat up.

Nanisca favors the strong.

What is the first rule

of training?

Always obey Izogie.

Come with me.

Drink.

What is it?

The only thing the white men

bring worth having.

They call it whiskey.

There. We finally found

a way to quiet Tse.

You know your tongue

will get you

kicked back to your village.

Why do you challenge

the miganon?

If I'm quiet, she won't see me.

Do you think she

has time to think about you?

She is thinking

about the world.

You know she may one day

be the kpojito.

-The woman king?

-Mm-hmm.

But we have not had one

in so many years.

His brother did not honor it,

but King Ghezo believes

in tradition.

In the twin gods,

Mawu and Lisa.

Woman and man.

Equal.

Ghezo will name a woman king.

For the gods and the people.

But is that what

the miganon wants?

I cannot say.

But in the palace,

she is a legend.

Captured as a young soldier.

Given up for dead.

But she returned,

with the Oyo bastards' kofes

hanging by her belt.

You know I hate that drink.

The king drinks

anything I give him.

The king is young.

He brings that silly wife

to the council.

Shante.

Ah, she is ambitious, hmm?

Tell me the dream, Nani.

It dispels its magic

if you say the words.

I am in the jungle.

Mm-hmm.

Something is out there,

in the darkness.

A beast.

Angry.

I can smell its sweat,

its fear.

What does the beast look like?

I don't know.

That is when I wake.

The dream is a warning, no?

We must ask Legba.

Oh, no. Not the nuts.

Do not call them nuts.

They are sacred.

You have enemies gathering.

You must do better than that.

I see fire.

Something or someone

from your past.

This is nonsense.

And your medicine, too.

-I am not even tired.

-Go to the altar.

Leave gifts for the dead.

Do it.

If you do not respect Ifá,

respect your own dream.

I am General Oba Ade.

...the esteemed regard

of the king of Oyo.

Gifts for the Oyo Kingdom,

as is tradition.

Nanisca.

This is less than ever before.

Did you think we would not see?

Did you think we would

not see your hand

in the raid of our village?

To make up for

your shortcomings,

I will accept an addition

to the tribute.

40 Agojie.

Not too old.

-And if I refuse?

-Then you may no longer

use the port in Ouidah

for your trade.

The port belongs to Dahomey.

We have taken control.

It belongs to us now.

I'm so surprised you brought

your horses here to plateau.

If they are bitten

by the flies,

they may get

the sleeping sickness.

Sometimes a mouse

can take down an elephant.

Do you threaten the Oyo,

usurper?

You will respect the king.

Mm-mm-mm-mm-mm. Migan.

This new general seeks

to bait us.

We won't jump

at his foolishness.

Let us talk.

20 Agojie of our choosing.

We will march them to Ouidah

and surrender them.

And the port remains open

for our trade.

I will leave Boma

to enjoy the feast

that you have prepared.

In Ouidah, I will be waiting.

Oba.

Nanisca.

What happened?

Your nuts were finally right.

Agojie.

Agojie's here.

Hey, a deal's a deal!

We bring tribute

from King Ghezo.

Dahomey has no soldiers

man enough.

They have to use their women.

It is against the gods.

My men will find plenty

of use for them.

You're mistaken.

These soldiers

are not your tribute.

This is your tribute.

Let it be known to all

The great and mighty King Ghezo

fears no one.

-Oyo!

-Oyo!

Li-Lift the gate!

Miganon!

Go!

Go! Go!

Push off.

Why did you not

follow the plan?

You were to go to the boats.

The soldiers were coming.

If I did not come back

as I did...

So you are the hero?

You can act on your own,

ignoring orders?

-You would not have escaped.

-Nawi.

It is you who faced capture

by disobeying my orders.

We are Agojie.

We do not act alone.

We move together

with one purpose.

Alone, you are weak.

Alone, you are killed or worse.

Now you have seen

the barracoons.

A captured Agojie is a slave.

Used by men.

Left to rot.

It is better to die.

Cut your own throat.

I will never question you

in front of the others,

but it is you who did not

follow the plan.

I only ever had one plan,

Amenza.

To take his head.

Nanisca, I...

Nanisca.

Come in.

I hear you have had a victory.

Nanisca, I think we have

started on a wrong foot.

I wish to be your friend.

I can help you.

I have the king's ear.

We should work together

to serve our king.

To ensure he grows

only more powerful.

It is you who wants

to be powerful.

To stay safe and rich

in your fine palace.

Too much change

can be dangerous.

I have said this much

to my husband.

Then we will soon understand

who truly has his ear.

This field alone produces

thousands of barrels

of palm oil.

If we harvest many fields

each year,

we will have a continuous

supply to trade.

Hmm.

I never saw a path before,

Nanisca.

But look at this.

Now I do.

Vision is seeing

what others do not.

But now we have declared war.

We will conquer the Oyo,

and we will expand our land.

Nanisca, we will be

the greatest empire in Africa.

Yes, my king,

but let us not be an empire

who sells its people.

Let us be an empire

who loves its people.

My brother sold our own.

I will never do that.

Even if they are not Dahomey,

they are still our people.

The white man has brought

immorality here.

They will not stop

until the whole of Africa

is theirs to enslave.

Go.

The English navy

now patrols the waters,

attacks and removes our cargo.

Your tribal warfare

is none of my concern.

And yours with Dahomey

is none of ours.

It will be over soon enough.

The Mahi, the Igbo,

they are with us.

By the full moon,

we will march on their city,

and we will take it.

Ouidah is open for business.

You will have your cargo.

Go back to Ouidah, slaver.

Naked like the people you sell.

I am not a slaver.

You understand me?

My mother was Dahomey.

You do not look like Dahomey.

My father is white.

So you are Dahomey but not.

And white...

but not.

You think I could

have my pants now?

I saw you in Ouidah.

Why are you here in the jungle?

I am going to Dahomey.

The place my mother told me

so much about.

Perhaps I will

see you there, too.

If you are allowed

into the palace.

I am Malik.

Malik!

I do not like

this young captain.

Puffed up like a banty rooster.

Finally, we agree.

So you are now a captain, eh?

-Si.

-Very good.

Well done.

You have my thanks.

My mother was also taken.

Sold by my brother.

I have many men in your country

searching for her,

and they will bring her back.

It is a must.

And, uh, if they find

your mother,

they will bring her back, too.

I have just buried her.

It was her dying wish

that I come to her home.

The only place

she was ever free.

This is your home.

It is yours, eh?

And you came on the right day.

Our magnificent Agojie,

they are doing

their final test.

So please sit, eh?

Go. Go on, sit. Go.

Prepare the seats for them.

Very good.

Let us begin.

Go.

Fear not.

Face it head-on.

Relentlessly, we will fight.

Fumbe.

- No, no, no, no, no, no.

- Come!

Come. Come. Come.

Come.

Come. Come.

Come.

Yeah!

Yeah!

Come.

Come, come, come, come, come.

Come, my dear.

Come, come, come.

What is your name?

I am Nawi, my king.

Nawi.

You are beautiful

as you are fierce.

If she was not so skilled,

I would have

made her a wife, now.

To the victor!

The gods will bless you.

The gods will keep you safe.

Well done to all of you.

You are the strongest

warriors in Africa.

Welcome to the King's Guard.

Agojie!

- Wu Suu!

- Agojie!

-Wu Suu!

-Agojie!

Wu Suu!

Hey, be still.

Thank you.

Why did you return

to help Fumbe?

You could have lost.

Fumbe is my friend.

I want her to stay.

To stay, she must pass the test.

To be useful,

she must stand on her own.

You would not help

your friend, Miganon?

Amenza?

I would step on her head

to win a footrace.

Ah, your first scars.

The mark of a warrior.

You see?

Hmm?

You will have many more.

Hmm?

Hmm?

Make sure...

all the thorns come out.

Here, here.

-Mm-hmm.

-Here.

Mm-hmm.

Here.

What is this?

Uh, my father used to call it

the devil's mark.

It was there when he chose me

from the orphanage.

You are an orphan?

But your father...

He took me in.

I guess I didn't turn out

to be the daughter he wanted.

Nani?

-What did you do with it?

-With what?

You told me never to tell you.

-I'm asking.

-You said you would ask,

-and you made me swear.

-Amenza!

I am not your servant, Nanisca.

I gave her to the missionaries.

-What missionaries?

-The ones we passed on the road

when we were marching.

-Where did they take her?

-I have no way to know that.

-What direction did they go?

I followed your order--

to free you of the burden--

and I chose to give her away.

-And that is all you know?

-Yes!

I do not lie to you.

Why do you ask these questions

after all this time?

Because Nawi is an orphan?

You couldn't possibly think

that sh-she...

Of course not.

No.

The gods are not that cruel.

Speak my language

when you are in my palace.

Your wife Shante,

she said you seek

an end to the trade.

She does not speak for me.

And she will be punished

for thinking she does.

She says this is

your general's wish

and perhaps not yours.

My generals obey my wishes.

So you wish to sell...

palm oil.

I wish for my people

to prosper,

as those of your land do.

Ghezo, the people in my lands

prosper

because of the slave trade.

And this very same trade

has made you rich.

As rich as the king of England.

You stop the trade,

you will be nothing.

King, maybe, but...

king of mud.

All of these captains will take

their business elsewhere.

The business

of selling Africans?

You will be unprotected.

Unprotected?

Ooh.

You know,

I am under no illusion

that you see us

as anything but a commodity.

But I am a king.

With or without your respect.

And if you are no longer

a necessity to me,

you, too, are unprotected.

Yeah!

Malik.

Nawi.

-May I come in?

-No.

No man may cross the palm line.

In Brazil, foreign men may look

on the king's women?

In Brazil,

women cover their bodies

with long sleeves, long skirts.

Then how do they run?

Yes? Make sure that...

We make camp

outside the walls tonight.

Come to see me.

Tonight, we take

our blood oath.

Afterward.

If you wish for a girl

to come to your tent,

there are girls

you can pay in the market.

No, no, I-I just want

to talk to you.

Malik!

Will you come to see me?

Agojie!

Blood of our sisters.

♪ Make us invincible ♪

♪ You live for me ♪

♪ And I for you ♪

♪ Blood of our sisters ♪

♪ Make us invincible ♪

♪ You live for me

and I for you ♪

♪ You live for me

and I for you ♪

♪ Agojie ♪

You are now my sister.

I will be proud

to fight with you.

I want you to teach me.

Like the miganon teaches you.

I also want to be great.

To be great, you must focus.

There can be no distractions.

I will.

At the test, I saw the man

from Brazil wave to you.

You know this man?

I... I came across him

in the jungle.

"In the jungle."

So, what,

you have feelings for him?

I have no way to know

how I feel about him.

You want me to teach you.

You are powerful.

More than you even know.

Do not give your power away.

Hmm?

You mean to love?

Love makes you weak.

You really believe that?

You have never loved?

I will be miganon one day.

You cannot have both.

Will that be enough?

This is the life

we have chosen.

We each survive in our own way.

You will find yours.

My mother was a slave.

That is all I ever knew

of African people.

I never dreamed that we were...

...kings and warriors.

But now...

I see the majesty.

I see the beauty.

I think you are a good man.

You must not ally yourself

with slavers.

We grew up together.

But does he see our beauty

as you do?

Nawi, the Oyo are coming.

We are ready.

No, not just the Oyo.

Other tribes, too.

I heard the general plotting.

We must tell the miganon.

I must get back.

Nawi, wait.

Tomorrow,

we are going to leave.

This is Ogou.

He is courage and strength.

Perhaps he will bring you

back to us.

I have nothing to give to you.

I will take you back.

Miganon.

I have heard something.

One of the men that came

to the palace,

Malik, he says the Oyo general

is growing his army

with other tribes.

They will march on Dahomey.

The Oyo have given them

courage.

Where were you speaking

with this man, Malik?

He spoke to me

through the palm line.

On the night you swear loyalty

to your sisters,

you speak in secret

with a slaver?

He's not a slaver.

His mother was Dahomey.

You defend him?

Is that knife a gift?

Where have you been?

-I have been nowhere.

-Come here.

Here.

You are an Agojie.

You cannot be with a man.

Do you think you are so special

that I will not put you out?

Because I will.

I do not think I am special.

Do not bow your head.

Do not.

I know your arrogance.

You continue to do

as you please.

You disregard the rules.

What do you want from me?

I proved myself today.

I am the best.

It is not enough

to be the best.

Your arrogance and your

stupidity will get you caught.

I am not you.

Izogie told me

that you were captured.

That will never be me!

I was raped many times

each night.

When they would come,

I wished only to die.

They took it all away.

Everything I knew.

And when I finally escaped,

I was with child.

A child of those men.

I would have to leave

my sisters forever,

so I had to hide.

I bathed alone.

And my belly grew.

It was a girl.

I told Amenza, "Take it away."

But the blood, it kept coming,

and Amenza ran away

to find medicine,

and she left me with her.

So I did something.

I made a cut

on the back of the left arm,

and I pressed a tooth into it.

A shark's tooth.

It isn't me.

They are a day's

journey from our plateau.

They will set up camp there.

They expect us

to defend ourselves

from behind our walls.

We are greatly outnumbered.

Their size makes them

arrogant and slow,

like their guns.

But you don't need a gun

to use gunpowder.

You just need a spark.

Sometimes a termite

can take down an elephant.

We will bring the war to them.

Agojie!

For 90 years,

Dahomey has lived

under the thumb of the Oyo!

When it rains,

our ancestors weep

for the pain we have felt

in the dark hulls of ships

bound for distant shores!

When the wind blows,

our ancestors push us

to march into battle

against those who enslave us!

When it thunders,

our ancestors demand

we rip the shackles of doubt

from our minds

and fight with courage!

We fight not just for today

but for the future!

We are the spear of victory!

We are the blade of freedom!

We are Dahomey!

Agojie!

-Wu Suu!

-Agojie!

Wu Suu!

-Agojie!

-Wu Suu!

Agojie!

-Wu Suu!

-Agojie!

Wu Suu!

We are under attack! Attack!

Grab your weapons!

We are Oyo!

Oyo!

Where is Oba?

Where is Oba?!

Fall back!

Fall back! Oyo, fall back!

Grab the Agojie.

Oyo, move!

Oba wants the Agojie.

Move, move, move!

They are retreating!

Move, move, move!

You fought well,

my young sister.

Now you must rest.

Ghezo! Wu Suu!

She is not here.

No one has seen her.

Fumbe.

I failed.

No.

You stayed alive.

You are not tied to anyone.

Mm-mm.

Go over.

Do you want to live?

Now.

We need to buy passage.

We are not going home?

We have lost.

At home, we are dead men.

Put this one on display.

The bids will be higher

for soldiers.

Move.

I said move.

Move back!

Make space for one more.

Izogie.

Come. Sit.

Sit.

Eat.

We will need our strength

to escape.

My arm is broken.

I know what I must do.

What the miganon said.

We will slit our throats.

We will not.

"Fear not.

"Face it head-on.

Relentlessly, we will fight."

Hey.

You are Izogie.

You said it.

"Relentlessly, we will fight."

Come on!

Push it back together.

You are strong

for a little fly.

Now what?

They were

taking us to the barracoons.

How many others?

Uh, three, I think.

-Izogie?

-Uh...

I did not see her.

Nawi said to throw myself

off the wagon.

Nawi?

Miganon, Ajahi.

The king requests you.

I have brought you here

because I have chosen kpojito.

Kpojito is beloved

of the people.

She must be deserving of their

admiration and their trust.

We must share the same vision

for our future.

A bold future.

For that reason,

I have chosen Nanisca.

She is a common soldier.

-Will you sit down.

-Ruined by the enemy.

-Sit down and be quiet!

-Shante.

Kelu, Efe, go and talk to her.

Go, go, go.

We will celebrate.

We will bring the city

to the palace,

and we will have a big feast.

Go and prepare.

Well done.

My king, it is a great honor.

But perhaps it is too soon,

when we have lost

so many soldiers

and the people are grieving.

Grieving?

No one is grieving.

We have won.

We have thrown off the yoke.

My king, I wish to seek

our lost Agojie.

Some were taken captive.

They will be sold,

used by the men.

Nanisca, the moment

you seek is here.

The few have been sacrificed

for the many.

-Now we must move forward.

-I can go alone. Let me try.

-The Oyo...

-You disobey me, Nanisca.

Are you confusing

my admiration for weakness?

I am your king.

Let me tell you, you will not

seek out those captives.

You must stay by my side

and take the honor

I bestow you.

Do not force my anger.

In the morning, they will come.

-Back up! Move it! Move it!

-Get back! Back!

-Move back!

-Back! Move it!

Move!

Stay back!

Move!

They will

take the Agojie first.

On your feet.

We must have patience.

When we are brought

to the block,

we will be unshackled.

We will have our legs.

We must not let them see

my arm is broken.

When we are sold,

that will be the moment.

You will make a distraction.

I give you 90 for this one.

120.

Oba, you said you would

be good to me here.

Mm-mm. It will go

to the highest bidder.

We will

each disarm a guard and run.

Do not stop

until you reach the water.

150 reais.

Nawi!

No.

No.

No.

Izogie.

Come on. Come on. Come on.

Get up.

No!

Izogie, get up.

No, no, no, no.

I'm sorry.

N-Nawi.

You move like a sloth.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry. Let's-let's go.

Let's go.

Izogie?

Izogie. Izogie.

You get away from her!

Get away!

If you want this one,

100 reais.

-What are you doing?

-Move aside.

You know what the king

will do to you if you defy him.

You want to be expelled

or worse?

-No, no, no, no. Nanisca.

-Amenza. Amenza.

-I cannot stand by.

-I know what it is.

In the dream.

The beast I am

so frightened of.

It is me.

It is that girl

who was silenced

in those shackles by those men.

I've hidden her away.

I have denied her pain.

But I'm going to hear her now.

Hmm?

I have to try to save her.

No.

Please.

It is not safe for us.

I brought you clothes.

I will sneak you out

at nightfall.

Do you own me now?

-Of course not.

-Get out!

-I am trying to protect you.

-By locking me in?

Do you know what

they would do to you?

A white man was killed.

You have the key now.

You can choose

when the lock is turned.

My mother guided me here

to find myself.

And I found you.

I have booked passage on

a cargo ship bound for England.

I want to keep you safe.

My heart has many scars.

Husband, please accept

my deepest apologies

- for questioning your will.

- Mm.

What do you want?

Move, my friend.

The wives are whispering.

I told Tanonu

what they say, and...

Have I not told you

not to discuss

my business with the wives?

Have I not told you?

My king, please forgive me.

Nanisca's gone to Ouidah

with the migan

and a number of her soldiers.

-Eh?

-We must postpone the feast.

No, no. The-the people gossip.

You cannot postpone it now,

not without looking weak.

Where are the others?

Izogie was killed, Miganon.

Nawi is gone.

There will be no prisoners.

Burn their whole trade

to the ground.

Sound the alarm!

Nawi. Nawi.

I need to come in.

We must go.

My sisters have come.

I have to help them.

Then I will help you.

No. Malik.

You must go.

Your clothes are bloody.

You can wear these.

I will take care of him.

I will be on the beach.

I want Oba.

Hurry up, this way,

this way! Come on!

Move, damn it!

No! No! No!

Malik!

Malik! Malik, in!

Malik, no! No! No!

Loose me! Loose me!

Não! Não! Não!

Malik! Malik, não!

Não!

Hyah!

You do not remember me.

Now you will never forget.

No, no, no, no!

Agojie!

Wu Suu!

- Agojie!

- Wu Suu!

Agojie!

Wu Suu!

-Agojie!

-Wu Suu!

Agojie!

Wu Suu!

Agojie!

Wu Suu!

Come. We cannot stay here.

Get in the boat!

Shante, well done.

You deserve it.

Nanisca! Nanisca!

Nanisca! Nanisca! Nanisca!

Nanisca! Nanisca!

Nanisca! Nanisca! Nanisca!

Nanisca! Nanisca!

Nanisca! Nanisca! Nanisca!

Nanisca! Nanisca!

Nanisca! Nanisca!

You disobey your king, Nanisca.

I will resign my command.

People of Dahomey...

...we have ended the reign

of the Oyo Empire.

Look upon the faces

of the warriors.

Look at them.

Many never thought it possible.

But we believed.

That is what makes

a great leader.

Seeing what others do not.

The Europeans

and the Americans have seen

if you want to hold

a people in chains,

one must first convince them

that they are meant

to be bound.

We joined them in becoming

our own oppressor.

But no more.

No more.

We are a warrior people!

And there is power

in our mind...

...in our unity,

in our culture.

If we understand that power,

we will be limitless.

My people,

this is a vision I will lead.

It is a vision that is shared.

Heroes of Dahomey,

behold the bravest

of the brave,

appointed by King Ghezo,

elevated to the sacred title

of kpojito,

Nanisca, the woman king.

An offering for Izogie.

She does not want that water.

She wants this.

In my blood is the blood

of a killer.

A man who gave you

so much pain.

I am sorry.

You are Agojie.

I am sorry.

I left you.

I was not brave enough.

But you survived because

you are meant to be here.

It is not your fault

what happened to me.

You...

are not the thing that hurt me.

You are Nawi.

You are my daughter.

I am sorry.

Mother, will you dance?

Sisters in blood.

You fall and now you rise.

Dance with us.

Be with us.

You live for me...

and I for you.

Izogie.

Ode.

Esi.

Yoshe.

Alekko.

Kesia.

Breonna.

♪ Got to understand ♪

♪ What happens from here

Is in our hands ♪

♪ From mighty kingdoms

Of a distant land ♪

♪ Turn the world upside down

Yes, we can ♪

♪ We just gotta ♪

♪ Rise up, rise up ♪

♪ Rise up, rise up ♪

♪ Rise up, rise up ♪

♪ Rise up, rise up ♪

♪ No, no, yeah ♪

♪ No ♪

♪ No, no, yeah ♪

♪ No ♪

♪ No, no, yeah ♪

♪ No ♪

♪ No, no, yeah ♪

♪ No ♪

♪ Been marching so long ♪

♪ How far is it to get

To where we're going? ♪

♪ Don't you know

Together we are strong? ♪

♪ We're gonna fight the madness

Till it's gone ♪

♪ We just gotta ♪

♪ Rise up, rise up ♪

♪ Rise up, rise up ♪

♪ Rise up, rise up ♪

♪ Rise up, rise up ♪

♪ No, no, yeah ♪

♪ No ♪

♪ No, no, yeah ♪

♪ No ♪

♪ Oh... ♪

♪ Rise up, rise up ♪

♪ Rise up, rise up ♪

♪ Rise up, rise up ♪

♪ Rise up, rise up ♪

♪ No, no, yeah ♪

♪ No ♪

♪ No, no, yeah ♪

♪ No ♪

♪ No, no, yeah ♪

♪ No ♪

♪ No, no, yeah ♪

♪ No ♪