The film How To Have Sex (How to make Love) by British director Molly Manning Walker won the Un Certain Regard prize at the Cannes Film Festival on Friday.
“This film was the most magical moment of my life,” said the director, whose first feature film this is, when her award was announced, after sending a message explaining that she was dedicating it to “ all those who have been sexually assaulted”.
How To Have Sex follows three young girlfriends who go on vacation in Crete, in a seaside resort. One tries to lose her virginity but things go wrong.
The film uses the clichés about this kind of vacation abroad – unlimited booze, pool parties and cheese fries – to tackle the serious issues of consent and rape.
Scenes that the director does not film, focusing on emotions. “I think as women we know that experience too much. We don’t need to be traumatized again,” the 29-year-old Londoner told Cannes during the Festival.
Molly Manning Walker was particularly inspired by a sexual assault she suffered at the age of 16. “We should be free to drink and wear whatever we want without being attacked,” she added.
Director of photography for other filmmakers, she has also directed music videos and commercials, as well as two short films.
The Un Certain Regard section is the main parallel section of the Cannes Film Festival, dedicated in particular to new talents. Its jury was chaired by the American actor John C. Reilly.
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