A few days before the release of the feature film
The Woman King
, scheduled for September 28 in France, its headliner Viola Davis sees it as a baptism of fire for the future of big-budget Hollywood films directed by black women.
In an interview with AFP on Wednesday, September 14, the Oscar-winning actress said she felt considerable pressure, believing that this work will be judged differently from films with white directors and actors.
“Above all, the film must bring in money.
And I am divided vis-à-vis that (...) If it does not bring in money, what does that mean?
That black women, dark-skinned women can't top the global box office?”
, launched the star of the series
Murder
.
“Afterwards, they will have statistics, saying that
Woman King
did this, that or that.
And that's what I have a problem
with, ”confided Viola Davis.
"Because it's just plain wrong.
We don't do that with white films.
When one film fails, you make another, and yet another
,” she added.
The Sony film
The Woman King
, which depicts the real life of female warriors in the kingdom of Dahomey – located in present-day Benin – in the 19th century, is in many ways a leap into the unknown for a major Hollywood studio.
Read alsoThuso Mbedu, stunning Dahomey warrior in
The Woman King
Viola Davis, the only African American to win an Oscar, Emmy and Tony Award, spent six years trying to convince reluctant studios and producers to bet on the project.
Ultimately, the $100 million budget film features an African-American director, Gina Prince-Bythewood, and a predominantly black and female cast.
A challenge
Viola Davis plays Nanisca, a seasoned warrior who trains the next generation of recruits tasked with fighting against a rival larger African kingdom and European slave traders.
The female army of the kingdom of Dahomey also inspired the fighters of
Black Panther
,
a film that generated $1.3 billion in revenue worldwide.
Viola Davis called on the public to demonstrate that it is possible to succeed even without a franchise like Marvel.
"If you can spend your money to see
Avatar
or
Titanic
, you can spend your money to go see
The Woman King ,
"
said the Oscar-winning actress for her performance as a scorned wife in
Fences
.
“And if we are truly equal, then I challenge you to prove it.”
Read alsoViola Davis, Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for “Fences”
“A compelling demonstration of black power”
The film was well received at its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival, with trade magazine
Variety
praising a
"compelling display of black power"
starring Viola Davis in her
"fierce role"
.
But the actress regretted that the film's fight scenes drew criticism she deemed misogynistic.
"There are even people, among the black population, who say: Ah, it's a film with dark-skinned women, why are they so masculine?
Why aren't they prettier?
Why couldn't it be a romantic comedy?”
, reported the actress to AFP.
If this film does not bring in money,
“you will not see us at all”
, regretted Viola Davis.
"It's the truth.
I would like it to be different”.
The Woman King
will be released in US theaters on September 16, a few days before the French release on September 28
.