Anny Duperey Expresses Concern Over “A Late Witch Hunt”

Actress Anny Duperey, speaking on RTL, has voiced her concerns about the tendency to “condemn the works of predatory artists”. Her comments have elicited strong responses from Alexandra Lamy and Judith Godrèche.

Anny Duperey has positioned herself against the #MeToo movement that has swept across French cinema, sparked by Judith Godrèche’s allegations of rape against directors Jacques Doillon and Benoît Jacquot.

During her appearance on RTL, Duperey, 76, expressed her fear of a belated witch hunt. She found the situation to be greatly exaggerated and the witch hunts distasteful. She admitted to having never been abrupt and credited her survival instincts, developed due to her personal history, for not becoming a victim.

The actress also expressed her displeasure over the inclination to censor the works of artists involved in assault cases. She believes that despite some men being predators, they have produced beautiful works that should not be condemned. She cited the example of Polanski and his film ‘The Pianist’, arguing that it would be foolish to condemn his works just because he had previously slept with a 15-year-old girl.

Responses from Judith Godrèche and Alexandra Lamy

Judith Godrèche responded to Duperey’s comments on Instagram, expressing her disappointment at Duperey’s ignorance and selfishness.

The Pandora’s Box of French Cinema

French cinema is currently dealing with the aftermath of the #MeToo movement, six years after its inception in Hollywood. Several prominent figures in French cinema have been accused of various offenses. Gérard Depardieu, who has been charged with rape, received backlash for his misogynistic and insulting comments towards women during a broadcast by France 2 magazine in December.

Judith Godrèche has also made headlines with her return to the big screen. The actress, now based in California, has revealed her early experiences with predatory directors in her autofiction comedy for Arte, ‘Icon Of French Cinema’. She has since received numerous testimonies and messages of support from the public.

Godrèche has lodged a complaint against Benoit Jacquot and Jacques Doillon for rape, a claim the directors have denied. Other actresses including Isild Le Besco and Anna Mouglalis have also accused Jacques Doillon of inappropriate behavior.

The Vanguard Role of Adèle Haenel

Nicolas Bedos, a director, is currently under investigation for alleged sexual assault in a nightclub. Meanwhile, actress Adèle Haenel, a forerunner in the movement, has accused director Christophe Ruggia of exerting control over her when she was a teenager. The Paris prosecutor’s office has since requested the criminal referral of Ruggia for sexual assault on a minor.