Consent - The Louise Nicholas Story

This award-winning telemovie draws on the harrowing true story of Louise Nicholas, who battled to take a group of police officers to court for allegedly raping her when she was a teenager. This excerpt begins with an adult Nicholas (Michelle Blundell) entering Rotorua's police station in 1993 for an interview with Detective Inspector John Dewar (Mark Mitchinson). The drama shifts to Murupara where the young "Lou" (Thomasin McKenzie) enjoys a carefree childhood — until a local cop, who was a family friend, abused Nicholas's trust in the most terrible way. Consent marked director Rob Sarkies' first TV movie. 

I don't want anybody else to go through what I did. One of my greatest lessons has been that these are individuals who hurt me, not an organisation. I am also pleased that it didn't turn into police-bashing, for me it was important that that didn't happen.

– Louise Nicholas, NZ Herald, 10 August 2014

Key Cast & Crew

Kelson Henderson

As: Phil Kitchin

Mark Mitchinson

As: John Dewar

Annie Collins

Editor

Michelle Blundell

As: Louise Nicholas

Thomasin McKenzie

As: Young Louise Nicholas

Rob Sarkies

Director, Original concept