Judith Godrèche deplores the silence of “people of power” in French cinema

The actress Judith Godrèche, spearhead of MeToo in France, deplored Wednesday December 18 having never been contacted by « people of power » in the cinema since she accused the filmmakers Benoît Jacquot and Jacques Doillon of rape. « There is not a person from my past who has an established place in cinema society – therefore, in quotes, power –there is not a person of power who has written to me since I spoke », regretted the 52-year-old actress before the commission of inquiry of French deputies into sexual violence in cinema.

According to Judith Godrèche, « this silence says a lot ». « He also says maybe : “I’m scared.” He says : “ I don’t want to lose my place.” He says : “I too have to slalom (…) so as not to hit a pole and also be pushed to the back of the procession””.

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At the start of the year, Judith Godrèche sparked an explosion by accusing director Benoît Jacquot, 25 years her senior, of rape, with whom she had a relationship when she was 14. She made similar accusations against Jacques Doillon. Investigations are ongoing and both filmmakers dispute these allegations. Since these positions, « the only people from this past who have reached out to me are people who (…) are, as they say, anonymous, in any case who do not have the power or who have nothing to lose (. ..), who are no longer in this environment »said Judith Godrèche. The latter, whose short film Me too had been screened at the last Cannes Film Festival, also said she hoped « be able to continue living » in the world of cinema, but expressed his resignation. « This system crushes the resistance »she said.

Judith Godrèche testified Wednesday in reaction to the statements the day before by Serge Toubiana, an influential personality in French cinema, affirming before this same commission that he was unaware of her relationship with Benoît Jacquot. Former boss of the Cinémathèque and ex-editor-in-chief of Cahiers du cinéma, Serge Toubiana said he was not aware of this relationship « respondent »before admitting that he was « Of course » informed, having received at the time the « couple » to dinner. Facing the deputies, Judith Godrèche accused Serge Toubiana, who was close to Benoît Jacquot, of“having lied under oath”. “He knew, everyone knew, him better than anyone,” she declared.