Consent (2023 French film)

Consent (French: Le Consentement) is a 2023 biographical drama film directed by Vanessa Filho, from a screenplay co-written by Filho, Vanessa Springora, and François Pirot,[1] based on Springora's 2020 best-selling memoir of the same title describing the sexual abuse she experienced beginning at age 14 from author Gabriel Matzneff,[6] then 49.[7] It stars Kim Higelin, Jean-Paul Rouve, Laetitia Casta, and Élodie Bouchez. The film is a co-production between France and Belgium. It was released theatrically in France by Pan Distribution and in Belgium by Anga Distribution on 11 October 2023.

Consent
Theatrical release poster
FrenchLe Consentement
Directed byVanessa Filho
Written by
Based onConsent
by Vanessa Springora
Produced by
  • Carole Lambert[2]
  • Marc Missonier[3]
Starring
CinematographyGuillaume Schiffman[4]
Edited by
  • Marion Monestier[4]
  • Sophie Reine[4]
Music by
  • Audrey Ismaël[4]
  • Olivier Coursier[4]
Production
companies
Distributed by
  • Pan Distribution (France)[4]
  • Anga Distribution (Belgium)[2]
Release dates
  • 11 October 2023 (2023-10-11) (France and Belgium)[4]
Running time
118 minutes[4]
Countries
LanguageFrench[4]
Budget€3,7 million[3]
Box office$4,6 million[5]

The film received two nominations at the 2024 César Awards, Best Adaptation and Best Female Revelation.

Plot

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Vanessa Springora was 14 when she was groomed by Gabriel Matzneff, becoming his muse and victim. After experiences with a troubled home life, Vanessa loses herself under Matzneff's destructive control.

Cast

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  • Kim Higelin [fr] as Vanessa Springora
  • Jean-Paul Rouve as Gabriel Matzneff
  • Laetitia Casta as Vanessa's mother
  • Élodie Bouchez as Vanessa Springora in 2013
  • Jean Chevalier as Youri
  • Lolita Chammah as the best friend of Vanessa's mother
  • David Clavel as Michel
  • Agathe Dronne as Christiane
  • Christophe Grégoire as Bernard
  • Doby Broda as Muriel
  • Irène Ismaïloff as the concierge
  • Annie Mercier as The doctor
  • Anne Loiret as the Latin teacher
  • Lilas-Rose Gilberti as Camille
  • Tanguy Mercier as Julien
  • Selma Tamiatto as Clothilde
  • Lou-Ann Trabaud as Agnès
  • Héloïse Bresc as Audrey
  • Eloi Léger as Nico
  • Ferdinand Redouloux as Corentin
  • Manon Le Bail as Eva
  • Donovan Fouassier as Olivier
  • Raphael Romand as Ronnie
  • Victor Fruhinsholz as Samuel
  • Noam Morgensztern as Jean-Didier Wolfromm
  • Félicien Juttner as the lover of Vanessa's mother
  • Marie-Christine Letort as Isabelle
  • Christophe Kourotchkine as Éric
  • Alain Fromager as Alain
  • Sébastien Pouderoux as Vanessa's father
  • Miglen Mirtchev as Emil Cioran
  • Françoise Gazio as Simone Boué
  • Anne Benoît as the French teacher

Filming

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Principal photography began on 16 May 2022 and wrapped on 30 June 2022.[3]

Release

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The film was released theatrically in France by Pan Distribution and in Belgium by Anga Distribution on 11 October 2023.[4][2]

Reception

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Critical response

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AlloCiné, a French cinema site, gave the film an average rating of 3.0/5, based on a survey of 33 French reviews.[8]

Box office

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The film debuted at number 10 at the French box office, selling 59,266 admissions from 195 theaters.[9][10] After TikTok users shared their experiences after watching the film on the platform, with some videos reaching nearly 2 million views, the film's box office had a boost in its second week,[11] selling 141,848 admissions from 216 theaters[10] and passing the 300,000 admissions mark on 2 November 2023.[12] The film was released to 460 theaters in its fifth weekend and ranked at number nine at the French box office.[10] As of January 2024, the film has sold over 600,000 admissions in France and has grossed $4,6 million worldwide.[13][5]

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
2023 Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival Best Actress Kim Higelin Won [14]
2024 Q d'or Female Revelation Won [15]
Paris Film Critics Association Awards Best Female Revelation Nominated [16]
Best Adapted Screenplay Vanessa Filho Nominated
César Awards Best Adaptation Nominated [17]
Best Female Revelation Kim Higelin Nominated

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Stojiljković, Marko (15 November 2023). "Review: Consent". Cineuropa.
  2. ^ a b c "Consent (Le Consentement)". Cineuropa. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "Kim Higelin et Jean-Paul Rouve tournent "Le Consentement"". Le Film français (in French). 20 May 2022. p. 20.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Consent". Unifrance. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Consent (2023)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  6. ^ "AFM: 'Consent,' France's Buzzy Adaptation of Vanessa Springora's #MeToo Bestseller, Lures Major Distributors Around the World (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. 4 November 2023.
  7. ^ Sanchez, Adam (17 August 2023). "Le Consentement : Jean-Paul Rouve incarne Gabriel Matzneff dans l'adaptation du livre de Vanessa Springora". GQ France (in French).
  8. ^ "Critiques presse pour le film Le Consentement". AlloCiné (in French). Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  9. ^ Mrad, Slim (18 October 2023). "Box-office hebdo : La Pat' Patrouille 2 a du flair". Boxoffice Pro (in French).
  10. ^ a b c "Le Consentement". JP Box-Office (in French). Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  11. ^ Leffler, Rebecca (17 November 2023). "How TikTok helped reverse the box office fortunes for 'Consent' in France". Screen Daily.
  12. ^ "Bouche-à-oreille: Les entrées du film «le Consentement» dopées par TikTok" [Word of mouth: Admissions for the film “Consent” boosted by TikTok]. Libération (in French). 3 November 2023.
  13. ^ "Box Office du film "Le Consentement"". AlloCiné (in French). Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  14. ^ "Emma Dante's 'Misericordia' Takes Top Prize at the Black Nights Film Festival". Variety. 18 November 2023.
  15. ^ "Kim Higelin, Q d'or de la révélation féminine au cinéma". TF1 (in French). 29 January 2024.
  16. ^ "Paris Film Critics Awards 2024: List of Nominees". Sortiraparis. 9 January 2024. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  17. ^ "Cesar Awards Nominations: Thomas Cailley's 'The Animal Kingdom,' Justine Triet's Oscar-Nominated 'Anatomy of a Fall' Lead the Way". Variety. 24 January 2024.

Further reading

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  • Vanessa Springora (2020). Le consentement [The Consent] (in French). Grasset. ISBN 978-2246822691.
  • Gabriel Matzneff (1993). La Prunelle de mes yeux: 1986-1987 [Apple of my Eye: 1986-1987] (in French). Gallimard. ISBN 207073174X.
  • Julie Delcourt (2022). Analyse de l'œuvre: Le consentement de Vanessa Springora: Résumé complet et analyse détaillée de l'oeuvre [Analysis of the Oeuvre: The Consent of Vanessa Springora: Complete Summary and Detailed Analysis] (in French). Le Petit Littéraire. ISBN 978-2808023603.
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