The #MeToo of French cinema continues. The actress Judith Godrèche questioned, Thursday February 8, the behavior towards her of the director Jacques Doillon, when he was directing her and she was 15 years old. Comments made the day after the announcement of a judicial investigation concerning Benoît Jacquot.
The Paris prosecutor's office opened this investigation after the actress' complaint of rape of a minor against Benoît Jacquot, who is 25 years older than her, directed her on screen and maintained a relationship with her for several years. from the age of 14.
Thursday, the actress reiterated on France Inter her accusations of abuse and violence against this filmmaker and implicated another director of the same generation, Jacques Doillon, 79 years old.
The facts she mentioned date back to the filming of “The 15-year-old girl”, released in 1989, and filmed when Judith Godrèche was 15 years old, and was in a relationship with Benoît Jacquot.
Judith Godrèche also accuses Jacques Doillon of having abused her at 15 years old: "All of a sudden, he decides that there is a sex scene between him and me, and we do 45 takes" #le710Inter pic. twitter.com/2THOf1FgBE
— France Inter (@franceinter) February 8, 2024
She recounted an intimate scene shot with Jacques Doillon, in the presence of Jane Birkin, who was then the director's partner. “All of a sudden, he decides that there is a love scene, a sex scene between him and me,” she said. “I take off my sweater, I'm shirtless, he gropes me, makes out with me,” she added.
Asked whether Jacques Doillon had “abused” her, she acquiesced.
New testimonies about Benoît Jacquot
Furthermore, Le Monde published on Thursday new testimonies on the behavior of Benoît Jacquot, author of “Farewell to the Queen” and “Diary of a Chambermaid”.
The actress and screenwriter Julia Roy, who is 42 years younger than him and has played in four of his films, denounces "verbal and physical violence": insults and threats, kicks and slaps, throwing chairs and dishes.
The actress and director Isild le Besco, who shot six films with Benoît Jacquot, for her part sent a daily text in which she talks about "psychological or physical violence".
“Sexual abuse, sexual sadism, happened immediately”, from the age of 14, explains Judith Godrèche #le710inter pic.twitter.com/wkHyL8QLK8
— France Inter (@franceinter) February 8, 2024
Neither Benoît Jacquot nor Jacques Doillon could immediately be reached by AFP.
In Le Monde, Benoît Jacquot spoke of "a kick in the ass" to Julia Roy, and denied any physical violence against Isild le Besco.
With AFP
The France 24 summary of the week
invites you to look back at the news that marked the week
I subscribe
Take international news everywhere with you! Download the France 24 application