Directors detained after sexual harassment allegations

The police detained Benoît Jacquot and Jacques Doillon after Judith Godrèche accused them of violence and sexual harassment in February, sparking the French wave of #MeToo.

According to French media, the two men are being questioned by the Paris branch of the French Juvenile Protection Brigade. Actress and director Judith Godrèche decided to publicize the sexual harassment she experienced in the film industry when she was a teenager in February this year.

During the César Awards (the so-called French Oscars), she appealed to the French film industry from the stage to break the silence conspiracy and stop protecting powerful men.

"I know losing grants, roles, or jobs is terrifying. I am also terrified. I dropped out of school when I was 15, I don't have a high school diploma, I have nothing. It would be tough to be blacklisted," she said then, adding that fear had driven her for 30 years.

Today, the 51-year-old woman claims that no one in the French film industry reacted when the then 39-year-old Jacquot became involved when she was only 14 and completely controlled her. She accused Doillon of forcing her to perform 45 sex scenes with him that were not in the script. She was 15 at the time.

According to French law, suspects can be detained for up to 48 hours. Both directors have hired lawyers and denied the allegations against them.