The female king loaded in theaters on September 16, 2022. The film starred Viola Davis, as General Nanisca, a leader among his tribe of Agoije. Similar to The first lady, which also featured Davis, The female king is a historical drama based on a true story.
Historically, the Agoije were an all-female combat unit that served the Kingdom of Dahomey in Africa. There are plenty of films in the same vein that feature powerful women who have influenced their people. Many of these films showcased the progress these women made in their roles, while some featured the turbulence that comes with taking on their roles.
‘Queen Christina’ (1933)
queen christina star Greta Garbo like Cristina. The film tells the story of the titular Queen, a member of House Vasa who ruled Sweden from 1632 to 1654. After her father’s death, she inherited the throne at the age of five. During her reign, she was not interested in marriage or love. She was interested in the arts and exploring political philosophy.
Queen Christina sought to maintain peaceful relations between the other rulers and in doing so helped end the Thirty Years’ War. She was also known to have fallen in love with a Spanish envoy, and her conversion to Roman Catholicism influenced her decision to abdicate the throne in 1654. queen christina is available on Amazon Prime Video.
‘Cleopatra’ (1963)
From 51 to 30 BCE, Queen Cleopatra VII ruled Egypt. The 1963 movie Cleopatra was a love story between Cleopatra and Julius Caesar (Mr Rex Harrison). After Caesar’s death, tensions rose between Egypt and Rome as Antony, the next heir to Rome’s throne, also fell in love with Cleopatra.
During Cleopatra’s reign, she wanted to form alliances with Rome (thus explaining her relationship with Caesar). After Caesar’s death and the division of control over the countries, she used her influence to convince Antony to fight against his rival, Caesar’s nephew, Octavian. A next Cleopatra the film is in preparation, with Gal Gadot have the main role and Patty Jenkins direct the film. Cleopatra is available on HBO Max.
‘Evita’ (1996)
queen victoria, Queen Elizabeth Iand Queen Marie Antoinette derive their power from being the next heirs to their throne. Eva “Evita” Duarte de Perón was not a queen, but she was a ruler nonetheless. She was the president’s wife Juan Peronbut through her actions, she has become more than just the wife of an Argentinian president.
Musical comedy Avoided (1996) told Evita (Madonna) from her early years as an actress to when she turned to politics after her husband, Juan Perón, won the presidency. Evita won the hearts of many people and was despised by others. She grew up in poor conditions, and as the First Lady of Argentina, she used her platform to help the poor. Evita is available on YouTube.
‘Elizabeth’ (1998)
The Netflix series The crown (2016) examined the life of Queen Elizabeth II from her coronation to her reign through different political events. Centuries before the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Elizabeth I (played by Cate Blanchett in the 1998 movie Elizabeth) held the throne.
Queen Elizabeth I was known for restoring Protestantism to a Catholic country. Many people doubted her as a ruler at the start of her reign. Queen Elizabeth proved them wrong by selecting advisers she trusted. She did not show a stubborn demeanor, but she saw her mistakes as a learning opportunity. Elizabeth is available on STARZ.
“Marie Antoinette” (2006)
When you think of female monarchs, you think of Marie Antoinette. Marie Antoinette, represented by Kristen Dunst, was the Queen of France before the French Revolution. The film was based on Antoinette’s biography, but rather than being a simple biopic, Sophie Coppola made a deliberately anachronistic film, from the costumes to the soundtrack.
Antoinette herself has struggled with authority and the expectation that she must act as the queen. Yet it also revealed the problematic behavior of the monarchy. The film explored why she behaved the way she did and her role during the fall of the French monarchy. Marie Antoinette is available on Vudu.
“The Iron Lady” (2011)
In Meryl StreepThe collection of comedies, dramas, musicals and romance movies is the movie The iron woman. Streep won three Oscars during her career, including her role as Margaret Thatcher in this film. In this film, she plays Thatcher, a prominent and controversial figure in modern British history. Thatcher was the first female prime minister whose authority was often challenged.
The film centered on Thatcher’s life after her husband’s death as she tried to come to terms with her loss. Despite her internal struggles, she was seen by some as a hero who broke the “glass ceiling” barrier and paved a way for women who wanted to be seen as equal to their male counterparts in politics. The iron woman is available on Starz.
“The Lady” (2011)
michelle yeo starred in the 2011 film The Lady. She portrayed Aung San Suu Kyi, Burmese diplomat, politician and author. She was the general’s daughter Aung San, politician and activist for the independence of Burma from British colonial rule. Suu Kyi lost her father at a young age after he and his colleagues were murdered.
The film depicts the long-distance love story between Aung San Suu Kyi. and her husband and the story of a leader of Burmese democracy (now known as Myanmar), despite the nation’s military rule. Aung San Suu Kyi took up a movement that her father had started before his death. The Lady is available on Tubi.
‘Kurmanjan Datka’ (‘Queen of the Mountains’) (2014)
Kurmanjan Datka (translated by queen of the mountains) play Elina Abai Kyzy as Kurmanjan Datka. Kurmanjan Datka was a 19th century Central Asian ruler. At a very young age, her prophecy suggested that she would be the person her country needed. Those who heard the maiden’s prophecy joked: How could a girl raised in a poor family influence a nation?
As a young woman, she married Chief Alymbek and supported his initiative to unite various tribes in the region. The Kyrgyz people respected Kurmanjan, and in return she promised to protect him from the Russians who planned to take over Central Asia. queen of the mountains is available on Plex TV.
‘Mary Queen of Scots’ (2018)
Saoirse Ronan portrays Mary Stuart, Queen Elizabeth I (Margot Robbie) cousin, in the movie Mary Queen of Scots. After realizing she was rightfully the next heir to the throne, Mary intended to secure it. Yet there were many obstacles standing in the way of her becoming Queen of Scotland. On the one hand, Mary refused to marry an Englishman; instead, she married a Frenchman. This decision cost her the respect she could have earned from the people of Scotland.
The people of Scotland disrespected Mary and admitted to Elizabeth that Mary should not be given the opportunity to rule. Mary was aware of this but didn’t want to back down from her lens. She asked for Elizabeth’s support and hoped that they would also rule side by side in their respective countries. Mary Queen of Scots is available on YouTube.
‘Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi’ (2019)
Set in the 1820s, Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi focused on Manikarnika (Kangana Ranaut). From an early age, Manikarnika was a fearless leader. She was determined to rule over Jansi, regardless of what British colonial rule believed. She had the heart of a warrior, and when she ascended the throne, her name was changed to Laxmibai.
The film was based on the real Rani Laxmibai, a war hero who led the Indian Rebellion of 1857. She refused to surrender and swore to fight for her people. Rather than flee her home, she fought the British alongside her soldiers. Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi is available on Amazon Prime.
