“Chemical submission: so that shame changes sides”: on France 2, a shocking documentary on the weapon of rapists

Chemical submission, the weapon of rapists, was finally brought to light this fall 2024 with the Mazan rape trial, where Dominique Pelicot was tried with his 50 accomplices for having drugged, raped and had his ex-wife raped. , Gisèle Pelicot, for ten years. Their daughter Caroline Darian – who also accuses her father of drugging and abusing her – stands alongside six other victims in this documentary. The diversity of testimonies leaves no doubt: this scourge is systemic.

Facing a floor covered with articles printed and titled with the words “drugged” and “rape”, Caroline Darian declares: “Until then, no one had had the idea of ​​linking these “news stories”. And the term “chemical submission” was not widespread in public opinion. » However, semantics are important: Renald remembers a “cotton body” facing her attacker while Léa, raped by two soldiers, speaks of “shots into the void”.

Both were drugged while accepting a drink, like Zoé, one evening at the Fête de la Musique. She doesn't remember anything, like one in two victims of chemical submission. “For a long time, I thought it was better this way. But not knowing leaves a huge amount of room for interpretation. »

“What made people not believe me? »

Her testimony intersects with that of Céline, raped by her ex-boss: “He will forever be the only one to know what happened in those eight hours, even though it is my story. » For Lilwenn, it was her hair that served as a reveal. After a sample, the 16-year-old discovered that her father had been drugging her since she was 9 years old. “When dosages explode, it corresponds to school holidays”delivers today to his mother in front of the results of the analyses.

The documentary takes as its common thread the Mazan rape trial. If the latter was highly publicized, it is partly for the relentless evidence – photos and videos – of the acts accused of the 50 attackers. But often, in cases of sexual violence, evidence is lacking and justice does not convict. This is the story of Katia, raped by a banker, today free and acquitted. “I had the feeling of expeditious justice. What made people not believe me? »

Because chemical submission is a real scourge, this documentary is a real weapon to raise awareness. Despite a sometimes unnecessarily dramatic staging – which tends to give a fictional color to sadly real words – it remains remarkable.

Chemical submission: so that shame changes sidesFrance 2, 9:10 p.m., Tuesday January 21, 2025.