The esteemed actress-turned-activist Judith Godrèche has courageously come forward, leveling damning accusations of sexual assault against two influential figures from her teenage years. The French police have subsequently summoned directors Benoît Jacquot and Jacques Doillon for questioning, following Godrèche's allegations of sexual misconduct against them.
In February, Godrèche filed formal complaints detailing decades-old incidents of alleged sexual assault by both men. She recounted a traumatic encounter with Jacquot, accusing him of raping her at the tender age of 14 in 1986 and subsequent offenses during a tumultuous romantic relationship spanning into the 1990s. Furthermore, she revealed that Doillon sexually assaulted her on the set of his 1989 film 'The 15-Year-Old Girl', where she held a starring role. Both men have vehemently denied these allegations.
On Monday, French media reported that both Jacquot and Doillon had been taken into custody and were being interrogated by the Paris branch of France's Brigade for the Protection of Minors. Godrèche's bravery in going public with her allegations has sparked a resurgence of France's #MeToo movement, with the actress herself becoming its iconic face. She has addressed the French Parliament and Senate, urging for a government commission to investigate sex crimes and sexism within the French film industry.
In another high-profile #MeToo case, Dominique Boutonnat, the head of France's prestigious national film board, the CNC, was convicted of sexually assaulting his 19-year-old godson, further highlighting the need for reform and accountability in the industry.
