Actress Judith Godrèche, who has accused Jacques Doillon and Benoît Jacquot of rape, has criticized the silence that pervades the film industry. She has called for victims of sexual assault to come forward and share their experiences.
During an interview with Mediapart, Godrèche spoke about the sexual assault she alleges to have suffered at the hands of Jacquot and Doillon when she was a minor. She attributes her long silence to not being ready to speak about the incidents and not even fully recognizing them for what they were. She criticizes the film industry, which she says views such revelations as a betrayal.
Godrèche likened herself to a “woman-robot”, created and controlled by men, who wants to break free. She feels imprisoned in the film industry, which sees her as a product of its creation and expects loyalty. She believes the industry played a part in suppressing her voice.
Godrèche expressed concern about potential backlash, particularly when her series, Icon of French cinema, was being distributed. She feared that Jacquot’s influence might impede her ability to create. She also called on film journalists to scrutinize their own behaviors and the industry they cover.
She criticizes the power dynamics on film sets and the deification of directors, which she says can lead to megalomania. She recalls feeling disgusted when, at 15, Doillon, who was 24 years her senior, insisted on filming a sex scene with her multiple times.
Godrèche has also made a public call for victims of sexual and gender-based violence to share their stories. She feels a sense of responsibility, as she thinks she may have inadvertently influenced young girls to start relationships with older men through the roles she played in the 1980s. She now wishes to provide a safe space for young girls and women to speak out.
Godrèche admits that this initiative is as much for herself as for others. She feels privileged to have had a platform on which to speak out and hopes to provide the same for others. She has found strength in the support she has received from other women, which she says has transformed her self-perception.
