HOW TO HAVE SEX
Starring: Mia McKenna-Bruce, Laura Ambler, Enva Lewis, Samuel Bottomley, and Shaun Thomas
Director: Molly Manning Walker
ADRIANO
In the beginning, How to Have Sex presents us with a lucid and fun coming-of-age sex comedy, and a very energetic one at that. Eventually, however, the film takes a drastic turn into a fascinating study of modern hook-up culture and the dynamic young women have when approaching it. In her feature debut, writer/director Molly Manning Walker announces her arrival to the scene with devastating nuance and astounding visuals. The film also features a performance that I hope turns Mia McKenna-Bruce into a star. How to Have Sex is a stomach-turning accomplishment that must be seen to believe.
PAIGE
How to Have Sex is one of the most honest and accurate depictions of young adult rebellion, the impacts of peer pressure, and the blurred lines of sexual consent that I’ve seen. This evocative coming-of-age tale surprised me by being incredibly relatable and genuine. I attribute this to director Molly Manning Walker and the cast's authentic performances, especially that of Mia McKenna-Bruce, who is definitely someone to watch. And while the film overall would have benefited from better writing, its realistic portrayal is what will draw you into this story.
KATIE
How to Have Sex is a powerfully raw film, driven by the extraordinary turns from its young cast. Director Molly Manning Walker explores the nature of consent, complicity, and societal pressures on young girls without ever treading into exploitative territory, and sensitively yet realistically tackles the issues from the protagonist Tara’s (Mia McKenna-Bruce) perspective. Despite Tara’s inability to articulate her experiences, her emotional battle is shown through her impeccable performance as well as the amazing use of sound, lighting, and poignant cinematography. After this triumph and having been the cinematographer for last year's Scrapper, I cannot wait to see what Walker does next.
This film was reviewed by Adriano as part of Bitesize Breakdown's coverage of the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival.