Leonard Wantchekon

Gina Prince-Bythewood, the director known for Love & Basketball, and Leonard Wantchekon, a Princeton economist and descendant of the Dahomey Amazons, delve into the historical epic The Woman King. They discuss the empowering narrative of Dahomey's elite all-female fighting force while grappling with the kingdom's dark involvement in the transatlantic slave trade. The pair highlight the balance between celebrating female heroism and acknowledging moral complexities, emphasizing the importance of authentic storytelling and representation in film.