Directed by Faraz Shariat and written by Claudia Schaefer, Jee-Un Kim and Dr. Sun-Ju Choi, after surviving a racist attack, state prosecutor Seyo Kim takes her own case to court – confronting both the perpetrators and a justice system that turns a blind eye to right-wing extremism. Starring: Chen Emilie Yan, Julia Jentsch, Alev Irmak, Arnd Klawitter, Mercy Dorcas Otieno and Sebastian Urzendowsky.
We may not be that far into 2026 but undoubtedly this is one of the best leading women characters who’ve appeared on screen so far this year, and that will likely still be true in December. Chen Emilie Yan’s Seyo is complicated, relentless, vulnerable, intelligent, quick-witted, and fearful yet remarkably strong. What that means is she’s willing to push for what she wants, even when that’s going to put other innocent people in a difficult position. That builds such a perfectly imperfect character, you can inherently see her flaws, how she pushes people away to protect herself and how she becomes hyper-fixated. Yet you can also see that the end game she’s working for is worth it, because when a system is broken, someone has to stand up for those who fall victim to it, otherwise change will never come.
An interesting, yet innately depressing, element to Prosecution is that it feels fairly timeless. Take away the technology and this story could arguably be taking place at any point in the last fifty plus years. To the point that the smug perpetrators of these racist attacks are not the most frustrating to watch, it’s those who try to defend and uphold a clearly broken, prejudiced system which prevents justice, because they misguidedly believe objectivity still exists within it. It’s an extremely well written, relevant, enthralling story, it hits all the right emotions of outrage, disgust and a deep sadness.
Faraz Shariat brings that excellent writing to life with such a gripping intensity. The way that Prosecution progresses is near perfect, how the tone and atmosphere continue to build is brilliant. The visual style and tone are reminiscent of Fincher’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, especially with such a powerful leading woman. At the same time, its composure and patience feel reminiscent of Saint Omer or Anatomy of a Fall. It’s a very satisfying blend of elements from all three of those films, it’s not rushed, it can cleverly sit in its moments, but it also has an edge of thrill. The cinematography from Lotta Kilian is another terrific element, it reflects the tone so well and leans into the darkness of this story.
Its intensity is something that’s unquestionably served well by the fascinating leading performance from Chen Emilie Yan. In her debut leading role, she gives absolutely everything to Seyo and she’s incredible. She grabs your attention and never lets go, it’s effortless to watch her as she powerfully commands this story. The resilience, the strength, the vulnerability, the struggle, the fear, the determination, it’s all there and impressively so. Also, very appropriately, it’s primarily the women of this story who come together to seek justice. Mercy Dorcas Otieno is a particular highlight among them, she gives a moving performance which perfectly captures immigrants’ exhaustion with the constant prejudice, and the disillusionment with a justice system that actively works against them.
Prosecution is one of the best courtroom dramas in recent years, capturing a very poignant, relevant story with such a captivating and gripping style. Faraz Shariat’s direction has a fantastic intensity, bringing an edge of thriller to the table and really embracing the dark, violent nature to this story. Claudia Schaefer, Jee-Un Kim and Dr. Sun-Ju Choi’s writing is truly brilliant, especially to create such a phenomenal leading character. Seyo is not only brought to life impeccably with a stunning performance from Chen Emilie Yan, but she’s also a character you could happily watch for a lot longer, with her spiky, rebellious charm. She’s one step away from being a vigilante as she simply will not be denied in her thirst for justice, and it’s utterly engrossing to watch.
FilmCarnage.com 