Interview With Michaela Coel About Her Film I May Destroy You

The film series I May Destroy You has premiered since June 8, 2020 on HBO GO. The film attracted a lot of attention due to its unusual storyline of sexual violence, friendship, and anxiety, with episodes airing 12 (twelve) times.

The premise in the series is that sexual violence is not controlled at all by the victim, due to chemicals mixed into the drink. This resulted in the victim losing consciousness and not being able to remember later events including when he was sexually assaulted.This isyu became popular, due to the large number of victims out there who experienced it.

In the series, Arabella(Michaela Coel),is a young black writer who goes with her friends to one of London’s bustling clubs the night before the deadline for her manuscript to be handed over to her publisher.

Arabella also had a traumatic experience, when chemicals were mixed into her drink, and then suffered a sexual assault that changed her life for good. Told honestly and openly, and without limitations make this film seem to offer something new, especially this incident experienced by a black man, so that it is shown also in the storyline, experiences and obstacles experienced because of this difference in skin color.

Thanks to television and social media, the film went viral and gained a lot of attention. The film was described by many outside media as a film that discussed culture and received a lot of praise.

Cinemags represented Nuty Laraswaty this time also get the opportunity to be able to interview Michaela Coel, as writer, director, producer and lead in the film I May Destroy You.

Michaela Coel said that the film was based on her personal experience, while filming her previous film, Chewing Gum. It is on this basis that the film was made to spread awareness that sexual violence is a universal event, can happen anywhere and to anyone (women and men), and can change the perspective of self-thought. While writing the script of this film, it was a profound experience for him, at first he found it difficult to write it but over time became accustomed and became one of the healings for him.

He also hopes that all who watched this film, can satisfy his curiosity and also for those who experience it can do self-introspection, this film can be a help / therapy to heal wounds. For those who have experienced sexual violence, can feel that he is not alone , but there are other people who also experience it. This is very helpful, in order to get back to sleep soundly, without being burdened by the event.

The film was written, directed and played by Michaela Coel, so that during the production process it felt difficult but also fun. He did not find too many types of movies themed on sexual violence, so was very excited while in the process of making this film. It is also further conveyed that the film has an element of surprise by starting from a certain place and ending with a different twist than imagined.

Note :

The film I May Destroy You is for the adult category, as well as many depicting certain cultures that may not be in accordance with the culture in Indonesia, so for underage audiences ( notrecommended, is an effort #sensormandiri ), required mentoring, guidance and explanation of more mature people.

Interview category

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