The hit West End play by Suzie Miller has been transformed into a thought provoking film starring Cynthia Erivo.
This is a film that has been carefully and sensitively put together, showcasing the legal system in the cases of sexual assault.
Just like Suzie Miller’s one woman 2019 play, Prima Facie follows the story of Tessa an immensely successful defence barrister whose tactics in court in cases of sexual assault has helped her previously. This all changes in the wake of a terrible experience for her, leading her to the other side of the bar and dealing with the same tactics she used to use in court herself.
Directed by Susanna White, the film is extremely powerfully focused as it takes in more perspectives and the impact that sexual assault in a wider circle – particularly when the assailant is known to others who have a different perspective on them. Prima Facie asks difficult questions of the legal system and is it fit for purpose for women in particular bringing to court these traumatic experiences to be brutally exposed in the courtroom.
The one issue I do have with the film is that it does take a lot of time to build up to be worthy of its two hour running time. Once it gets to its central premise it works wonderfully well – tight, well nuanced and fierce in its reasoning an argument. There is a real passion at its core. It also feels like many of the characters have too much of a say and it can slightly distract from the central premise of the story – although the touching moments between Tess and her mum (Noma Dumezweni) offer a sense of comfort. In contrast, seeing the way in which the rape happens is increasingly difficult but shows what can start as a normal encounter can out of the blue turn into something darker and scary.
But it equally isn’t an easy watch – Cynthia Erivo’s performance as Tessa is raw and painful to watch particularly in the wake of the sexual assault that her character goes through. Watching her character question everything including her loyalty and love of the law is consistently engaging to witness, while the way in which she seems to have outer body experiences in the wake of the rape is painful to watch . Meanwhile, Daniel Ings as Tessa’s colleague and lover captures the chilling nature of how someone can change to get whatever what they want no matter the cost.
It is a film that sparks strong feelings and you leave it feeling angry at the state of the law in regards to sexual assault – particularly when at the end that you are confronted by the statistics of one in three women experience sexual assault, one in ten women report the assault but just as shockingly – only one in ten of those assaults reported end in conviction.
Prima Facie as a film is an intense and painful watch but it also asks difficult questions that ensures you are left thinking about it long after it finishes.
Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Prima Facie will be released in cinemas on the 13th November.