Renowned French director Benoit Jacquot, 77, has been formally charged with rape. The charges, announced by prosecutors in Paris, allege Jacquot's involvement in the sexual assault of actresses Julia Roy, 34, and Isild Le Besco, 41.
This marks a significant escalation in a case that has drawn international attention and intensified scrutiny of France's handling of sexual misconduct allegations within its cultural elite.
The accusations against Jacquot come amidst a broader reckoning within the French filmmaking community, where multiple women have recently come forward with allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation. Critics argue that the industry has historically shielded perpetrators and failed to adequately address allegations of misconduct.
The charges stem from allegations by Roy and Le Besco, both of whom accused Jacquot of sexual assault during different periods spanning decades.
Roy, who starred in several of Jacquot's films between 2016 and 2021, alleges that the assault occurred in 2013 during what she describes as a professional relationship turned abusive.
Le Besco, on the other hand, has accused Jacquot of raping her when she was a minor and Jacquot was 52, initiating a relationship characterized by significant power differentials.
The Paris prosecutor's office has accused Jacquot of "rape of a minor" involving Le Besco from November 1, 1998, to November 21, 2000. Le Besco would have been 15 years old at the beginning of this timeframe.
Jacquot, along with fellow filmmaker Jacques Doillon, 80, was previously detained for questioning regarding these allegations, which they vehemently denied.
While the investigation did not result in charges related to earlier accusations by actress Judith Godreche. Earlier this year, she filed a complaint against Jacquot, alleging that he raped her during a relationship that began in the 1980s when she was 14 years old and he was 25 years older than her. Due to statute of limitations constraints, no investigation was carried out.
The allegations brought forth by Roy and Le Besco have now culminated in serious legal repercussions for Jacquot. In response to the charges, a spokesperson for Jacquot asserted his innocence and emphasized his commitment to cooperating fully with legal proceedings.
Meanwhile, the accusations have sparked renewed debate about the statute of limitations on sexual assault cases in France, with critics arguing that such limitations often prevent justice for victims whose allegations come to light years or even decades after the alleged incidents.
The outcome of this case could set a precedent for how similar allegations are handled in the future, influencing both legal procedures and societal attitudes toward sexual misconduct within the arts.
