Representation matters. I saw it in the trailers glimpsed before “The Woman King” (now in theaters) – among them “Till,” “She Said” and “Devotion” – and I certainly saw it in the movie itself. Even to me – a white, straight, cisgender man – it was powerful to hear my largely black audience’s applause at the film’s conclusion and to see beautiful sisters of color decked out in dashikis dancing their way down the aisles on their way out of the auditorium.

Those who wrote off “The Woman King” as “Dora Milaje: The Movie” aren’t entirely wrong (these women served as inspiration for Christopher Priest’s run on “Black Panther”), but it’s more than that. It’s inspiring to see people of color not only being empowered, but being complete and utter badasses within that empowerment. It’s important to see women have autonomy over their bodies and excel within that independence. Those who are upset about Halle Bailey playing Ariel in “The Little Mermaid” probably need not apply. Everyone else is in for a rousing time at the movies … even childish, dumbass, white boys like me who laughed whenever ‘Dahomey’ was dropped. Dance on, sisters. Dance on.

Please read full review at: filmyap.substack.com/p/the-woman-king.