Last year, the Cannes Film Festival ignored protests from women’s rights groups to open with Maïwenn’s Jeanne du Barrya period film starring alleged abuser Johnny Depp as the King of France.
A year and a mini #MeToo revolution later, Cannes chose Me too (Me Too), a short film by French actress turned activist and filmmaker Judith Godrèche, opens its Un Certain Regard section.
Best known in the United States for the Oscar-nominated film Ridiculous (1996) and The Man in the Iron Mask (1998), Godrèche became a key figure in the French #MeToo movement after accusing famous directors Benoit Jacquot and Jacques Doillion of sexually assaulting her when she was a teenager. Both men have denied the allegations.
These allegations and the fact that Godrèche is one of France’s best-known actresses and a beloved former child star have helped put #MeToo back in the spotlight in France. Her numerous public appearances – she took the stage at the Césars, the French equivalent of the Oscars, in February to call the French film industry an “incestuous family” and addressed the French Parliament and Senate on the issue – have put pressure on the French. the industry to change. As a result, last week, lawmakers agreed to launch a government investigation into sexual and gender-based violence in the film, broadcast, performing arts, advertising and fashion sectors.
Godrèche’s film features victims of sexual abuse who contacted the actress after she spoke out and made her Instagram public, calling on others to share their stories. Some 6,000 people responded.
“Suddenly, in front of me, there was a crowd of victims, a reality which also represented France, so many stories from all social origins and all generations,” Godrèche said. “So the question was: what was I going to do with it? What do you do when you are overwhelmed by what you hear, by the volume of testimonies?
Godrèche asked them to meet in a Paris street for a performance directed by his daughter, the actress and dancer Tess Barthélemy. About 1,000 people came. Godrèche collected audio testimonies from victims recounting their abuse, which she constructed into a fragmented soundtrack.
Me too will be presented in preview before the opening ceremony of Un Certain Regard, as well as at the open-air Cinéma de la Plage and free to the public on May 15.
The 2024 Cannes Film Festival takes place from May 14 to 25.
