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, 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, then 49. 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.
The film received two nominations at the 2024 César Awards, Best Adaptation and Best Female Revelation.
Contents
Plot
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
Kim Higelin 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
Filming
Principal photography began on 16 May 2022 and wrapped on 30 June 2022.
Release
The film was released theatrically in France by Pan Distribution and in Belgium by Anga Distribution on 11 October 2023.
Reception
Critical response
AlloCiné, a French cinema site, gave the film an average rating of 3.0/5, based on a survey of 33 French reviews.
Box office
The film debuted at number 10 at the French box office, selling 59,266 admissions from 195 theaters. 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, selling 141,848 admissions from 216 theaters and passing the 300,000 admissions mark on 2 November 2023. The film was released to 460 theaters in its fifth weekend and ranked at number nine at the French box office. As of January 2024, the film has sold over 600,000 admissions in France and has grossed $4,6 million worldwide.