renault clio tailgate release broken and passenger seat rear access lever ?

Hi all
Hope you can help , within a week my daughters clio 1.2 52plate has had the following fail : The boot will not unlock ( ie button will not depress--any clues and how do i open it in the meantime?
Also her passenger seat rear access ( its a 2 door car) lever has had the cable that tilts the seat forward come adrift , have removed the 2 star screws that seem to hold the mechanism in place , but the lever and its surrounding part still seem reluctant to move and i don't want to force it --any help appreciated on both points
many thanks
John

John Middleton
April 2009