In the Wake of #MeToo, Lawmakers Call for Sweeping Reforms to Protect Vulnerable Artists and Hold the Film and Fashion Worlds Accountable
A powerful new parliamentary investigation has cast a harsh spotlight on the systemic abuse that has long plagued France’s film and culture industries, describing sexual violence within the sector as “endemic, systemic, and persistent.” The long-awaited report, presented to French parliament this week and previewed by local media, marks a pivotal moment in the country’s evolving #MeToo movement—one that calls not only for acknowledgment but for concrete change.
The inquiry, led by French MP Sandrine Rousseau, follows a wave of high-profile sexual assault allegations that have shaken the foundations of France’s artistic institutions. Rousseau’s conclusion is unequivocal: the cultural sector must confront a deeply rooted culture of silence, impunity, and exploitation—particularly of young and vulnerable performers.
The investigation was launched in October 2024 in the wake of explosive allegations by actress Judith Godrèche. Godrèche accused acclaimed directors Jacques Doillon and Benoît Jacquot of raping her when she was just 15 years old, a revelation that sparked national outrage and reignited urgent conversations about the industry’s failure to protect minors and women from abuse.
In the months since, the inquiry has gathered testimonies from some of France’s most celebrated artists—including Juliette Binoche, Jean Dujardin, and Pierre Niney—who stood in solidarity with survivors and urged structural change. Their voices, along with those of many lesser-known industry professionals, helped shape the report’s 86 recommendations aimed at overhauling safety protocols and funding regulations across film, television, and fashion.
Among the proposed reforms: all casting sessions must take place during working hours in professional environments with at least two adults present; intimacy coordinators must be mandatory for all sex scenes; and the sexualization of minors in film and fashion shoots must be banned outright.
The report also calls for actor contracts to include clear, detailed terms regarding the filming of intimate scenes, ensuring informed consent and protecting actor rights. One recommendation includes granting actors the legal right to review and approve any edited footage that includes their intimate body parts, with the Centre National du Cinéma (CNC) serving as mediator in any disputes.
Perhaps most significantly, the report proposes extending France’s statute of limitations for reporting childhood sexual abuse—a move aimed at empowering survivors to come forward when they are ready.
The inquiry arrives amid one of the most high-profile trials in recent French memory. Famed actor Gérard Depardieu, once considered a towering figure in international cinema, is currently facing charges of sexually assaulting two women on a film set in 2021. Depardieu has denied the allegations, and a verdict is expected on May 13. His case, like that of Godrèche’s accusations, has galvanized public attention and added urgency to the cultural reckoning now unfolding in France.
While some view the current moment as overdue, others see it as the beginning of a long path toward justice. “This is not about tarnishing the legacy of French cinema,” Rousseau said in a recent interview. “It’s about protecting the people who make it possible.”
With these sweeping reforms now formally proposed, the French government faces a crucial test: whether it will act swiftly to implement safeguards that protect performers—not only in response to past abuses, but in prevention of future ones. For the survivors of industry-wide exploitation and for a generation of young artists, the hope is that this report will not simply make headlines—but make history.
