Sexual violence | The Caesars, moment of truth for French cinema

(Paris) Actress Judith Godrèche, who has become the spearhead of the denunciation of sexual violence in French cinema, denounced the “level of impunity, denial and privilege” in the industry, receiving a standing ovation on Friday in Paris on the scene of the César, the French Oscars.

Another symbol, the Césars awarded for the second time in their history the trophy for best direction to a filmmaker, Justine Triet, for “Anatomy of a Fall”, also in the running for the Oscars with five nominations, including best direction .

“Why accept that this art that binds us is used as a cover for illicit trafficking in young girls? », questioned the one who freed speech on the subject in France by filing a complaint against the directors Benoît Jacquot and Jacques Doillon for sexual and physical violence during her adolescence, which the latter deny.

“You have to be wary of little girls, they touch the bottom of the pool, they get hurt, but they bounce back,” she added, calling on the victims to “believe”.

The ceremony took place under high tension, with victims of gender-based and sexual violence hoping that it would be a landmark. The question arose immediately, in the introductory remarks of the president of the ceremony, the actress Valérie Lemercier.

“I will not leave this stage without praising those who are shaking up the habits and customs of a very old world where the bodies of some were implicitly at the disposal of the bodies of others,” declared the latter.

Just as symbolic, the Academy awarded its very first prize, the César for best actress in a supporting role, to Adèle Exarchopoulos, for I will always see your faceswhere she plays an incest victim.

Before the ceremony, around a hundred people demonstrated in front of the theater where the ceremony was held, at the call of the CGT union, to support the words of the victims. “All together, we can really help things change, a truly better world can open up,” declared actress Anna Mouglalis, who accused directors Philippe Garrel and Jacques Doillon of having sexually assaulted her.

“Collective blindness”

Also before the opening of the festivities, the Minister of Culture Rachida Dati, then present in the room, deplored a “collective blindness” which “lasted for years” in the cinema sector, in an interview with the magazine French Film.

“Creative freedom is total, but here we are not talking about art, we are talking about child crime” regarding Judith Godrèche, she continued.

From the indictment for rape and sexual assault of Gérard Depardieu to the accusations made by Judith Godrèche, followed by other actresses, sexual violence haunts French cinema more than ever. Actor Aurélien Wiik launched the hashtag #MeTooGarçons on Instagram on Thursday.

Supposed to represent cinema in its diversity, the Césars have evolved since the cataclysmic 2020 edition where Roman Polanski, accused of rape, received the award for best director for I accusecausing the departure of actress Adèle Haenel.

The institution has been renewed. A rule of “non-highlighting” of those accused by the courts “for acts of violence” has been instituted (no invitation to events linked to the Caesars, no presentation of statuettes on stage, nor speeches for the laureats).

A priori, none of the named people are the subject of accusations. Actor Samuel Theis (Anatomy of a fall) is under investigation after a technician filed a rape complaint while filming a film last summer, but he is not part of it.

Justine Triet for History

Anatomy of a fallPalme d’Or at Cannes and nominated five times for the Oscars (on the evening of March 10 in Los Angeles, on the night of the 11th in France), won the César for best director.

The film continues its collection of awards that began at Cannes and is in the running for the Oscars with five nominations, including best director. “It gives hope for the future. We very much hope so in any case,” declared director Justine Triet upon receiving this award.

At 45 years old, its director Justine Triet makes César history by becoming the second woman to win the prize for best director, a quarter of a century after Tonie Marshall (Venus Beauty (institute) in 2000).

As for performers, among the favorites, German actress Sandra Hüller (Anatomy of a fall) won the César for best actress.

The Frenchman Raphaël Quenard won the César for best male revelation for Dog of the breakage.

Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania called for “the massacre to stop” in Gaza by receiving the César for best documentary for Olfa’s daughters.