Cynthia Erivo stars in ‘Prima Facie’ premiere at TIFF

Cynthia Erivo starred in the world premiere of ‘Prima Facie’ at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The film, directed by Susanna White, is a cinematic adaptation of Suzie Miller’s acclaimed one-woman stage play.

Erivo portrays Tessa, a successful British barrister from a working-class background who specializes in defending those accused of sexual assault. The narrative follows her transformation after she becomes a victim of sexual violence herself, forcing her to confront the systemic biases of the legal institution she once navigated with confidence.

Critical reception at the festival has been varied. While some reviews highlighted Erivo’s riveting performance and the film’s importance in addressing consent and judicial power, others described the adaptation as a ‘well-intentioned mess’ due to its structural changes from the original stage production.