Page 14 - aruba-today-20220901

a14 people & arts
Thursday 1 sepTember 2022
Fall Preview: 'The Woman King' comes for the throne

By JAKE COYLE Theron, became one of the
AP Film Writer streamer's most-watched
NEW YORK (AP) — Gina films. (A sequel, which
Prince-Bythewood didn't Prince-Bythewood is pro-
get very far into reading the ducing, is in production.)
script for "The Woman King," "'The Old Guard' was the
a historical epic about a first film I did for streaming,"
real West African army of she says. "I didn't know how
female warriors, before she it was going to feel given
knew she wanted to direct how much I love theatrical.
it. There's something amaz-
"Literally five pages into it ing about going global in
I knew it was going to be an instant. But the release
my next film," Prince-By- Sony has planned for this is
thewood says. "I felt so con- global, too."
nected to these women. I And to her, "The Woman
was so excited. When they King" stands as a metaphor
rise up out of the grass I was for the film industry, where
like, 'Ohhhh, I want to shoot such stories and protago-
that.'" This image released by Sony Pictures shows Viola Davis in "The Woman King." nists have rarely made it to
When "The Woman King" Associated Press the big screen. Most of the
— which does begin with department heads on the
the imposing image of Vi- rights are imperiled. will premiere at the Toronto Woman King" is a kind of film were women. Dana
ola Davis and a regiment "It's a time right now in our Film Festival in early Sep- mission statement and cap- Stevens wrote the screen-
of female soldiers stealthily country, and it permeates tember before Sony Pic- stone to her 30-year career. play. Cathy Shulman and
emerging from tall savan- worldwide, where women tures opens it in theaters, A high-school basketball Maria Bello are producers.
nah grass in the moonlight, are feeling completely at- is a clear standout in the player and a track runner Polly Morgan shot it. Terilyn
with swords drawn — rises tacked. In some ways, it upcoming fall movie sea- at the University of Cali- A. Shropshire edited it.
up in theaters on Sept. 16, feels like we're powerless son. Davis stars as an Af- fornia, Prince-Bythewood "There are great people out
it will emerge as a potent in the situation," Prince-By- rican warrior named Na- brought that athletic mind- there who are not getting
force on a movie land- thewood said in a recent nisca, with Thuso Mbedu, set to filmmaking, breaking opportunities, so I look past
scape that has seldom interview. "We can look Lashana Lynch ("No Time through with 2000's "Love & the resume," says Prince-
seen something like it. up on the screen and see to Die"), Sheila Atim co- Basketball," with Sanaa La- Bythewood. "At a certain
Drawing from the real his- the warrior in these woman starring as fellow soldiers. than and Omar Epps. point, someone did that for
tory of the Agojie, women and believe we all have The film unfolds against "Love & Basketball" has me. Certainly Mike De Luca
warriors who defended this innate warrior in our- the backdrop of the slave only gotten better with for 'Love & Basketball.' So it's
the West African kingdom selves and believe that we trade, a scourge that the time ("Double or nothing?" exciting to have that type
of Dahomey (present-day can stand up and fight. Dahomey king (John Boye- remains one of the movies' of energy where people
Benin) from the 1600s until "I want women to be able ga) mulls a response to. The most romantic lines). And get up from a production
the late 19th century, "The to tap into their fight be- action, though, is driven by in 2020, "The Old Guard" meeting to look around
Woman King" is muscular cause that's what we're go- the strength and cunning brought Prince-Bythewood and see mostly women. I
action-drama that puts fe- ing to need in this moment," of the Agojie, and by Davis' to a wider audience than think they all were warriors
male power front and cen- added Prince-Bythewood. titanic presence. ever before. The Netflix su- in what we had to pull to
ter at a time when women's "The Woman King," which For Prince-Bythewood, "The perhero film, with Charlize get this movie made."q

Catherine Deneuve eyes lifetime achievement award in Venice

ment Award at the Venice starts working at a brothel important in her early ca-
International Film Festival. in Luis Buñuel's classic "Belle reer when she hadn't yet
"We don't have time to de Jour." In 1998, she won had much experience in
look backwards," Deneuve the festival's Volpi Cup for film.
told reporters Wednesday, "Place Vendôme." She'll "Today, the important
hours before her award. collect this latest honor, an- things are the same: The
"This is our present and we other Golden Lion, at the story I want to tell ... the
have to continue to go for- festival's opening night. screenplay ... the environ-
ward." Though she is often de- ment we create ... the peo-
At 78, the legendary French scribed as an icon of cin- ple I will spend time with,"
actor is as busy as ever. ema, Deneuve rejects the Deneuve said.
She's just wrapped up one term for herself. She also She also continues to seek
film in Paris and is starting said she doesn't think she out new movies — and
another soon in Belgium. was ever a "sex symbol" ei- wants to see them in a
The industry environment, ther. crowd at a theater.
she thinks, is better for older But she still treasures the "I love cinema. I love going
Catherine Deneuve poses for photographers at the photo call women, and actors, in Eu- films she made with direc- to the cinema," she said.
for the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement during the 79th
edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, Wednesday, rope than in America. tors Jacques Demy ("The "I want to be in a cinema
Aug. 31, 2022. Deneuve has a long history Umbrellas of Cherbourg," with people I don't know.
Associated Press with the Venice Film Fes- "The Young Girls of Roche- It's not just the sound. It's
tival, going back to 1967 fort" and "Donkey Skin") the atmosphere. At home,
By LINDSEY BAHR that fond of reminiscing, when she won the Golden and François Truffaut ("The it's very different. You don't
AP Film Writer even as she prepares to Lion for her portrayal of a Last Metro"). Demy in par- feel things the same at
Catherine Deneuve is not collect a Lifetime Achieve- well-heeled housewife who ticular, she said, was very all."q