Michel Houellebecq loses his lawsuit to ban in the Netherlands a “porn” film in which he appears

A Dutch court on Tuesday (28 March) rejected a request by French writer Michel Houellebecq to ban a film he considers defamatory, Kirac 27, described as porn and featuring the world bestselling author. In the trailer for this film, directed by the Dutch collective Kirac, the writer appears shirtless kissing a young woman in bed. Michel Houellebecq believes that this had damaged his reputation and that he was portrayed as a “porn star”.

The tribunal “refuses the injunctions requested and orders Houellebecq to pay the costs of the proceedings, estimated to date at 1393 euros”said the summary judge of the Amsterdam court. “It is incomprehensible that Houellebecq took part in the recordings if he found the contract really problematic”, he explained in a written judgment.

Alcohol and spleen deemed inadmissible

The judge rejected the French novelist’s claims that he only signed the contract because he was depressed and drunk. The author called the verdict “very disappointing”his Dutch lawyer Jacqueline Schaap told AFP. “Mr. Houellebecq is seriously considering an urgent appeal”she added.

The film’s director, Stefan Ruitenbeek, said he was relieved by the decision. “I always intended to make a portrait with integrity. I hope Michel will be happy with the result.”, he said in a statement released by his lawyer. In February, Michel Houellebecq lost a similar lawsuit in a French court.