Girl You Know It's True (film)

Girl You Know It's True is a 2023 biographical film about the notorious late-1980s/early-1990s music duo Milli Vanilli, who caused one of the most infamous scandals in international pop music. Simon Verhoeven wrote, directed and co-produced the biopic, which was produced by Wiedemann & Berg Film, with Leonine as the theatrical distributor, released in cinemas on December 21, 2023.^[3] The movie stars Tijan Njie and Elan Ben Ali as the lip-synching stage artists Rob Pilatus and Fabrice Morvan respectively, as well as Matthias Schweighöfer as the instigating music producer Frank Farian.^[4]

Robert "Rob" Pilatus – a mixed-race child adopted by a German couple in an all-white Munich neighbourhood – finds solace listening to Boney M, the pop group created by established music producer Frank Farian. Years later, following an argument with his father who disapproves of an entertainment career, Rob leaves home and meets Fabrice "Fab" Morvan, a choreographer from France. After revamping their image, they perform as podium dancers at a nightclub where music journalist Ingrid 'Milli' Segeith scouts them. She introduces the pair to her partner Frank who reveals that his future hit "Girl You Know It's True" is already recorded, and the duo are only required to mime, to which they unwillingly agree. Rob and Fab later discover the recording is a cover version but Frank and Milli assure them that re-recording original songs is common industry practice, and "Girl You Know It's True" climbs the charts across Europe.

Rob and Fab – now known as Milli Vanilli – are signed to Arista Records in America where they are warmly welcomed, although executives arrange for a dialect coach to help them refine their strong European accents. The duo accumulate a vast fan base after relocating, but their lavish lifestyle, drug addiction, and reckless behaviour earn them a bad reputation. Meanwhile Numarx, the original band behind "Girl You Know It's True", are furious to discover their record company sold their song without permission, but are unable to sue as they own no publishing rights. Rob is overjoyed when a man claiming to be his biological father contacts him, but cuts ties upon realising he is an imposter after monetary gain.

Back in Germany, Frank grows increasingly worried that his secret will be exposed and orders Milli Vanilli to return home, which they refuse. Apart from a technical glitch incident that causes their backing record to skip as they lip-sync, their Club MTV tour appearances are a success, with "Blame It On The Rain" and "Girl I'm Gonna Miss You" becoming bigger Milli Vanilli singles. The original session singers, Brad Howell and John Davis, however, are upset that the duo are receiving the recognition and accolades they believe are rightfully theirs, especially after Milli Vanilli are nominated for a Best New Artist Grammy, which they unexpectedly win.

Realising he is now powerless against Milli Vanilli, Frank bans them from using their stage name for an upcoming tour after Rob and Fab threaten to reveal the truth unless they use their own voices on the next album. Taking decisive action on his own terms, Frank holds a press conference in New York where he publicly admits that Milli Vanilli had never sang on their album, igniting a major scandal. Overnight, the fans turn against them, Arista deletes their music catalogue, and Milli Vanilli's Grammy is revoked. While Numarx reacquire their publishing rights – now worth millions – and subsequently become successful music executives, Rob spirals deeper into addiction and Fab, unable to cope with his friend's situation, moves out of their shared apartment. After Rob is released from prison for theft, he returns to Germany where Frank offers to send him to rehab, but he dies of an overdose, leaving Fab devastated. At the funeral, Rob's sister Carmen is irritated to see Frank among the attendees, but Fab is absent.

Fab – who is narrating the film with Rob – apologises to his friend for leaving him at the height of his drug problems, claiming he had to save himself first. Rob assures him it was not his fault. The film ends with Milli Vanilli performing "Girl You Know It's True", giving their audience the happy ending they expect.^[5][6][7]

• Tijan Njie as Rob Pilatus
  • Romeo Guy Da Silva as Young Rob
• Elan Ben Ali as Fab Morvan
• Matthias Schweighöfer as Frank Farian
• Graham Rogers as Todd Headlee
• Bella Dayne as Milli Segeith
• Tijan Marei as Carmen Pilatus
• Samuel S. Franklin as John Davis
• David Mayonga as Brad Howell
• Mitsou Jung as Melly
• Penelope Frego as Stefania
• Roxanne Rittmann as Emily
• Nico Ehrenteit as Michael

Previous attempts to produce the film had failed. In 2007, it was announced that Universal Pictures was developing a motion picture based on Milli Vanilli's rise and fall. Jeff Nathanson, a screenwriter known for Catch Me If You Can, was to write and direct the film, with Morvan serving as a consultant, providing his and Pilatus's point of view.^[8] However, the project was never completed. In 2011, German director Florian Gallenberger announced that he was reviving the project and rewriting the script,^[9] but the project never materialised.

In August 2022, it was revealed that Leonine Studios were filming a biopic about the troubled musical duo Milli Vanilli. The project's writer and director, Simon Verhoeven, was named producer alongside Quirin Berg and Max Wiedemann, as well as Laura Mihajlovic of Wiedemann & Berg Film.

One of the executive producers of the biopic is R&B music producer and performer Kevin Liles, who composed the original version of "Girl You Know It's True" with Baltimore DJ crew Numarx in 1986. Kirstin Winkler and Frank Farian are also among several other producers. Associate producers are Jasmin Davis, daughter of John Davis, and Brad Howell. Carmen Pilatus, sister of Rob Pilatus, Milli Vanilli's former assistant Todd Headlee, and Ingrid Segieth a.k.a. Milli, are also attached as associate producers.^[10][11]

Since Morvan had previously sold his film rights to director and producer Brett Ratner, he initially couldn't be involved in Verhoeven's film.^[12] After Ratner was called out and sidelined during the #MeToo movement in Hollywood,^[13] which led to the cancellation of Ratner's competing Milli Vanilli biopic, Morvan eventually could join the team behind the camera as another co-producer.

Additional production was done by Sentana Film, SevenPictures and Mediawan.^[14] The film was picked up by Voltage Pictures.^[15]

Matthias Schweighöfer was confirmed as playing the group’s producer Frank Farian, with Elan Ben Ali and Tijan Njie appearing as the Milli Vanilli frontmen Fabrice Morvan and Rob Pilatus. In September 2022, roles were announced for Graham Rogers and Bella Dayne.^[16]

Filming took place in Munich, Berlin, Cape Town,^[17] and Los Angeles in 2022, with filming continuing until the end of the year.^[18] Filming was confirmed to have wrapped in December 2022, and in February 2023 Voltage Pictures were announced to have acquired worldwide sales (excluding Germany) and were taking the film to the European Film Market.^[19]

The film was released in Germany on December 21, 2023, and in the United States on August 9, 2024.^[20] Its North American premiere took place at the 2024 Berlin & Beyond Film Festival in San Francisco with Morvan in attendance. In June 2024, Vertical acquired North American distribution rights to the film, planning a day-and-date release on August 9, 2024.^[21]

At the Bavarian Film Awards on 19 January 2024, Girl You Know It's True won for Best Film, as well as Best Newcomers for the main actor duo Tijan Njie and Elan Ben Ali.^[22]

• Girl You Know It's True at IMDb
• Excerpt