The actor Judith Godrèche has denounced France’s “incestuous” film industry and called for the establishment of a commission of inquiry into sexual violence in the sector as she spoke in front of senators in the upper house of parliament, reports The Guardian.
The landmark hearing – the first time an artist has spoken to the senate about sexual and gender-based violence in the French film industry – comes amid claims that the world of arts has shrugged off sexism and sexual abuse for decades.
Godrèche, 51, has become a leading voice in France’s #MeToo movement after accusing directors Benoît 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, Godrèche 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 the president of the powerful National Centre of Cinema (CNC), Dominique Boutonnat, to be removed from his position.
Boutonnat, who is supposed to be steering the industry on to a better course, has himself been accused of sexually assaulting his godson in 2020, an allegation he denies.