Molly Manning Walker, a phenomenon of British cinema, premieres the film “How to Have Sex”, a movie themed around the concept of consent
In her directorial debut, Molly Manning Walker crafts a poignant coming-of-age story with “How to Have Sex,” a 2023 drama film. The narrative follows three sixteen-year-old best friends, Tara, Em, and Skye, on a summer after high school vacation to the Greek island of Crete.
While Em embarks on her college journey in the fall, Tara and Skye face uncertainties about their futures. Seeking a memorable summer of firsts, the girls anticipate indulging in drinking, clubbing, and exploring their sexuality. However, Tara, the sole virgin in the group, grapples with the pressure to keep pace with her friends’ experiences.
The Hype for the film has been there since Cannes
The film premiered in the Un Certain Regard section of the 2023 Cannes Film Festival on May 19th. Prior to its debut, Mubi secured distribution rights for the film in key territories including North America, the United Kingdom, and Latin America. Additionally, the film received an invitation to the 28th Busan International Film Festival’s Flash Forward section in October 2023. Following its festival run, “How to Have Sex” reached US theaters on February 2nd, 2024 and premieres in Europe today. Director Molly Manning Walker assembled the cast for “How to Have Sex,” including Mia McKenna-Bruce, Lara Peake, and Samuel Bottomley. Filming commenced in Greece in October 2022, according to Deadline Hollywood. However, The Guardian reports that shooting locations were established in Malia, Crete, over a two-month period beginning in September 2021.
The critics claim that hype was worth it
“How to Have Sex“ garnered critical acclaim upon release. On Rotten Tomatoes the film got a stunning 96% approval rating with an average score of 7.9 out of 10. Critics praised the film’s authenticity, with the website’s consensus calling it “a powerful debut” that captures “female adolescence and friendship with sobering effervescence.” Metacritic, which assigns weighted averages, awarded the film a score of 79 out of 100 based on 37 reviews, indicating “generally favorable” reception.
Both Molly Manning Walker‘s direction and Mia McKenna-Bruce‘s lead performance received widespread praise. Wendy Ide, journalist for The Observer commended Walker’s ability to navigate the film’s emotional spectrum, finding it “skittish, spirited and very funny, and at the same time troubling and bruisingly sad.” Guy Lodge from Variety described McKenna-Bruce‘s performance as “star-making,” highlighting how the film tackles “the minefield of sexual education and consent for a post-#MeToo generation.” Clarisse Loughrey from The Independent compared the film’s impact to F. Scott Fitzgerald‘s “The Great Gatsby,” stating it utilizes a “subtle but devastating rug-pull” to expose modern sexual culture.
The movie is now on Cinemas in Europe and critics from all over the world can watch and enjoy the debut of what promises to be a future top-tier director.
Guillermo Lorenzo Manzano
