Emerald Fennell's writer/director debut has sparked debates between film critics and fans alike and has received four Golden Globe nominations. The haunting yet visually appealing film makes you uncomfortable, but it also lets you know it's okay to laugh at times. But most importantly, it inspires conversation.
Main character Cassie (Carey Mulligan) is a 30-year-old woman who lives with her parents, works at a café by day and goes out to bars pretending to be barely-conscious-lost-all-her-friends-needs-help-standing-up drunk. Every night she meets a 'nice guy' who offers to take her home but doesn't. Inevitably, when these men make a move on her, barely awake, she reveals in a surprising twist that she is sober and asks them 'What the hell are you doing?'.
Ultimately, this film aims to spark conversation and does it effortlessly. It explores consent, rape culture and the systematic failure to protect victims of sexual assault in a raw, honest way without being too graphic. Through Cassie, we are also introduced to an array of people who enabled a predator with their actions (or lack of), without shifting the blame solely to them. At the same time, we see people left broken without judging them by how they cope. The film is a wild rollercoaster ride into the scarily familiar world of toxic masculinity.
LIGHT SPOILERS AHEAD
It is revealed piece by piece that Cassie's revenge mission is a reaction to her best friend Nina's experience with sexual assault, which changed both their lives forever. She is seeking a closure that is impossible to reach and throughout her journey, the film gets messy, heavy, funny and even confusing, mirroring her thoughts and feelings as she navigates her plan to correct a wrong and live a 'normal' life.
As she revisits the tragic incident, we are introduced to the authority figure who didn't take things further, friends who chose to stay silent instead of bringing a man to justice, parents who don't quite understand and more. These characters deepen the message of the film and allow it to become reality.
You follow Cassie, you feel her pain and you learn to trust again, just to fall on your face one more time. The end of the movie is anti-climactic, but perfectly describes the missing sense of closure Cassie and Nina felt. It raises questions about redemption, justice and makes you question your own experiences with sexual assault. But above all, it makes you talk. And change starts by talking.
Stream Promising Young Woman online.
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