(Toronto) À quelques jours de la sortie du long métrage The Woman King, sa tête d’affiche Viola Davis y voit un baptême du feu pour l’avenir des films à gros budget hollywoodiens réalisés par des femmes noires.
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Dans un entretien avec l’AFP mercredi, l’actrice oscarisée a dit ressentir une pression considérable, estimant que cette œuvre sera jugée différemment des films avec des réalisateurs et acteurs blancs.
« Avant tout, le film doit rapporter de l’argent. Et je suis divisée vis-à-vis de cela […] If it doesn’t make 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, this or that. And that’s my problem, ”confided Viola Davis.
“Because it’s just plain wrong. We don’t do that with white films. When one movie fails, you make another, and yet another,” she added.
The Sony Movie The Woman Kingwhich 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.
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.
” Prove it ”
Viola Davis plays Nanisca, a seasoned warrior who trains the next generation of recruits tasked with fighting 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 which 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 Where titanicyou can spend your money to see The Woman King “said the actress, Oscar winner for her performance as a flouted wife in Fences. “And if we are truly equal, then I challenge you to prove it. »
“You won’t see us anymore”
The film was well received at its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival, trade magazine variety praising a “compelling display of black power” with Viola Davis in her “fiercerest 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 wish it were different. »