‘Prima Facie’ Review: Cynthia Erivo Leads a Complex, Fascinating Adaptation of the Powerful One-Woman Show

James Hilton's 1941 novel "Random Harvest" underwent a significant transformation when it was adapted into a film just a year later. The film had to restructure itself around the audience seeing the protagonist's obliviousness, as opposed to the novel's ability to hide this revelation. Similarly, Suzie Miller's 2019 one-woman play "Prima Facie" made a complex transition to the big screen.

Unlike the play, which concluded with a shocking twist, the film had to alter its immediate and dynamic approach due to the addition of other actors. Cynthia Erivo plays Tessa, a brilliant barrister and rising star, who believes in the law even when it protects terrible people. Tessa spends her time defending men accused of sexual assault, often portraying vulnerable women as confused and unreliable.

The film, directed by Susanna White, presents Tessa's world more objectively, making the plot easier to follow but potentially simplifying the material's complexities. The film's adaptation, while still powerful, offers a different perspective on Tessa's story and the theme of believing victims of sexual assault.