Dubai Telegraph - Actor Godreche denounces sexual violence in landmark French parliament hearing

The landmark hearing at the Luxembourg Palace comes as French cinema is reeling from claims that the world of arts has shrugged off sexism and sexual abuse for decades.

Godreche, 51, became the first artist to speak to members of French parliament's upper house about sexual and gender-based violence in the French film industry.

She has become a leading voice in France's #MeToo movement after accusing directors Benoit Jacquot and Jacques Doillon of sexually assaulting her while she was a teenager. Both have denied the allegations.

"This incestuous family in the film industry is just a reflection of all the families" affected by such violence, Godreche told the Senate's women's rights committee.

She said she had received 4,500 testimonies from victims of sexual violence since launching an appeal on social media.

The actor called for the creation of a commission of inquiry into sexual and gender-based violence in the film industry and also for Dominique Boutonnat to be removed from his position as president of the powerful National Centre of Cinema (CNC).

Boutonnat, who is supposed to be steering the industry onto a better course, has himself been accused of sexually assaulting his godson in 2020, an allegation he denies.

In 2022, the French government appointed him to serve a second mandate, much to the dismay of feminist associations.

Godreche also called for the creation of a "more effective system of control" that would include "a neutral advisor" at shoots involving minors and an intimacy coach for sex scenes.

Dominique Verien, head of the committee told AFP before the hearing: "The idea is not to be voyeuristic by bringing her to testify, but to think about what can be done to protect" children from sexual violence.

Last week Godreche received a standing ovation at the Cesar Awards as she took the stage to denounce the use of the film industry as a "cover for illicit trafficking of young girls."

French prosecutors opened a probe this month after Godreche accused filmmaker Jacquot of raping her during a six-year-long relationship that started when she was 14 and he was 25 years her senior. She also accused director Doillon of sexually abusing her when she was 15. He was 29 years older at the time.

A.Krishnakumar--DT