Judith Godrèche calls for a parliamentary commission of inquiry into cinema aimed at better protecting children on film sets

At the end of the actress’ hearing on Wednesday, the president of the delegation for children’s rights, Perrine Goulet, assured that her delegation and that dedicated to women’s rights would “continue this fight.”

The actress Judith Godrèche, who filed a complaint for rape of a minor against the directors Benoît Jacquot and Jacques Doillon, requested Thursday March 14, 2024 the creation of a parliamentary commission of inquiry into labor law in the world of cinema and “risks for children”. “Who should we count on to ensure that from now on no child will be the victim of sexual or moral violence on a set or during a casting?” launched the director during a hearing before the children’s rights delegation of the National Assembly.

“Are we going to remain silent? I am counting on you, I am counting on you to protect the children, to no longer deliver them to the cinema without any protection”, she added. “These are the same systems as those of education, medicine, publishing, sport for example, for which you have ordered a commission of inquiry.”

Judith Godrèche concluded her introductory remarks by asking the deputies to “take the initiative of a commission of inquiry into labor law in the world of cinema and in particular its risks for women and children”.

Need a “harassment representative” on filming

“It is absolutely necessary that in all filming which involves a minor, there is a harassment representative who is not under the responsibility of the production, who is independent”, she added. It would also be “important to require that there be a third person at all times” in the room where the casting director is and to make the presence of casting coordinators obligatory“privacy”.

At 51, the director became a spearhead of the #MeToo movement in France after filing a complaint in early February against Jacques Doillon, but also against the director Benoît Jacquot for sexual and physical violence which dates back to his adolescence. A preliminary investigation was opened in Paris into these accusations of rape of a minor under 15 years old by a person in authority, rape, violence by a partner, and sexual assault on a minor over 15 years old by a person in authority. The two directors refuted the accusations against them through their respective lawyers.

At the end of the hearing with Judith Godrèche, the president of the delegation for children’s rights Perrine Goulet assured that her delegation and that dedicated to women’s rights would “continue this fight.” “By what means, it is to be defined, in any case we will not let go of your word, I think we can guarantee that,” she indicated.