French actor Judith Godrèche has lodge a rape complaint against filmmaker Benoît Jacquot, newspaper Le Monde reports.
Godrèche, who met Jacquot when she was 14 years old and the director was 39, accuses him of “predation” and “violent rape of a minor under 15 years old committed by a person in authority.” She has filed her complaint with France’s Juvenile Protection Brigade.
According to French newspaper Le Monde, Jacquot denies the claims, telling the outlet theirs was a “loving” relationship.
Godrèche and Jacquot met in 1986 on the set of his movie “Les Mendiants,” which was released two years later. Despite the 25 year age gap, they began a relationship which went on for six years, during which time the actor says she was “in [Jacquot’s] grip.” She also starred in his 1990 film “La Desenchantee.”
“It’s a story like the stories of children who are kidnapped and who grow up without seeing the world and who cannot think ill of their captor,” Godrèche wrote ahead of a hearing, set to take place today in France, Le Monde reported. “I would have liked Benoît to agree to be my friend, to not have me, I didn’t want his body. Very quickly, he disgusted me.”
The actor, who has appeared in more than 50 films, including “The Man in the Iron Mask” opposite Leonardo DiCaprio, told the newspaper: “It’s the first time in my entire life that I cried for myself, for this abused child that I was.”
Benoît is one of France’s most celebrated filmmakers, dubbed the heir to New Wave cinema with around thirty films to his name. His 2013 effort “Farewell to the Queen” won three César awards, the French equivalent of an Oscar. He has worked with some of France’s best known actors, including Catherine Deneuve, Isabelle Huppert and “The Beach” star Virginie Ledoyen.
The prosecutor’s office confirmed Godreche had filed a complaint on Feb. 6. “The Paris prosecutor’s office has entrusted the investigation to the Juvenile Protection Brigade,” a spokesperson told PvNew. “The investigation concerns the offenses of rape of a minor under 15 years old committed by a person in authority, rape, violence by a partner and sexual assault of a minor over 15 years old by a person in authority. The offences were alleged to have taken place between 1986 and 1992.”
PvNew has contacted Jacquot and the French prosecutor for comment.
