Prima Facie

Saturday, September 19: This screening will be presented with open captions.

Anchored by a powerhouse performance from Cynthia Erivo, the Oscar-nominated star of Wicked and TIFF ’19’s Harriet, this piercing legal drama examines what happens when an ambitious barrister who primarily defends those accused of sex crimes unexpectedly becomes the accuser. Adapted by Australian playwright Suzie Miller from her globally acclaimed one-woman show, and directed by Susanna White (Our Kind of Traitor, TIFF ’17’s Woman Walks Ahead), Prima Facie exposes the pitfalls of a legal system that places the burden of proof on the victim  Having risen from a working-class background to a successful career in law, Tessa (Erivo) does not suffer fools. She is a formidable presence in the courtroom, expertly dismantling opposing arguments, uncovering vulnerabilities, and holding her adversaries to the highest standards of jurisprudence. For Tessa, the nature of a client’s alleged crime is irrelevant: she believes the legal system operates optimally when all parties are given the strongest possible representation. However, her life is turned upside down when she is sexually assaulted by a colleague, forcing her to experience first-hand just how merciless — and misogynistic — the law can be toward already-traumatized women who are merely seeking justice. Backed by a magnificent supporting cast that includes Daniel Ings, Elizabeth Dulau, and Simon Russell Beale, Erivo is at once devastating and inspiring in this dauntingly complex role. “Prima facie” is a Latin expression meaning “based on first impression,” and this hard-hitting, intelligent film shows just how unreliable initial assessments can be.    Content advisory: sexual assault, sexual content, crude content, depictions of racism, explicit violence