‘Prima Facie,’ a film adaptation of Suzie Miller’s award-winning stage play, screens at the Toronto Film Festival with Cynthia Erivo starring as a lawyer who becomes a rape victim during a trial. The story follows the character’s perspective shifting as she confronts the realities of sexual violence and the legal process in a courtroom setting.
The film is directed by Susanna White and follows earlier stage success. The role originated on stage with Jodie Comer in London’s West End, where the production won Olivier Awards, including Best Actress for Comer. Comer later reprised the role on Broadway, where the performance won a Tony Award.
Both reviews describe the screen version as carrying expectations due to the play’s prior acclaim, noting differences in how the material translates to film. Deadline characterizes the film as an uneven adaptation, while The Hollywood Reporter refers to it more directly as a misfire, though both outlets center on Erivo’s performance in the lead role and on the transition from theater to cinema.
