Who Is Izogie From The Woman King?
Ignore its overt and egregious Oscar snub. "The Woman King" is a film that stands as an impressive feat on its own. Though most of the characters were invented for the screen, the film is inspired by the true story of the Kingdom of Dahomey, whose military was the female force known as the Agojie. As one of the more inclusive films to come out of Hollywood recently, "The Woman King" features characters who are not your usual pandering archetypes found in historical dramas. "The Woman King" is populated with authentic people, from the formidable but vulnerable Gen. Nanisca (Viola Davis) to Nawi (Thuso Mbedu), a gunpowder-loving insubordinate recruit. And holding it all together is a secondary but integral character, Izogie. Played by 007 herself, Lashana Lynch, Izogie is yet another crucial, complex layer of the film.
One of Nanisca's most loyal supporters, Izogie adheres to the Agojie's doctrine of discarding empathy. This changes when Nawi refuses to abandon a fellow warrior, and her mentor starts to learn that there is more to their ranks than just brute force. This theme returns when the Oyo Empire captures the Agojie, intending to sell them. The women fight back, and Izogie is close to escaping. But seeing that Nawi has fallen into the hands of the slavers, Izogie goes back for her in a moment of tragic sacrifice. She saves Nawi at the expense of her own life, demonstrating in a final moment of triumph that empathy is just as much of an asset as physical strength.
Lashana Lynch brings humor to the serious role
Beginning with her character introduction in "The Woman King," Izogie defies expectations. She may be part of a brutal fighting force, but she also has a wickedly funny streak that sets her apart. This element was important to Lashana Lynch, who has made a career out of unpredictable roles.
"A woman in an all-female army, very, very physically strong, mentally strong — we are now going into what, in the wrong hands, would be the strong Black woman trope that I'm always on the hunt to dismantle," Lynch told The New York Times. "And this is a really great way of doing that, softly." After returning to Dahomey with the rest of the warriors, she has a playful interaction with a young boy, though looking at the Agojie warriors is forbidden. She also expresses her playful side in her dynamic with Nawi. Even when detailing her backstory, including an abusive mother, Izogie can't help but make jokes. Lynch said she worked with director Gina Prince-Bythewood to make sure Izogie was a nuanced character.
"For me as an actor characterizing Izogie, I thought, 'I want her masculine and feminine energy to be equally as powerful and equally as seen,'" Lynch continued. "I think that's what we did between me and Gina. We allowed her to just be, and to not think about who Izogie would be compared to, or if she would be considered the really strong, physically built, masculine woman in the army."