People in the French film and television world have stated that they will not collaborate with actor Gérard Depardieu again, following the release of a documentary containing footage of sexist and inappropriate conduct by the actor. Depardieu is currently being formally investigated for rape.
The film, Depardieu: The Downfall of a Giant, aired on the government-owned network France 2 on Thursday evening, following numerous accusations of sexual misconduct against Depardieu from multiple women in a report by Mediapart last year.
In 2018, a documentary was released featuring Depardieu’s visit to North Korea for the country’s 70th anniversary. The actor was accompanied by a television crew and was aware of being filmed. During his trip, he made lewd remarks towards women, sexually harassed a female translator multiple times, and made inappropriate comments about a child riding a horse at an equestrian center. Upon viewing the footage on Friday, European parliament member Manon Aubry condemned Depardieu’s behavior as “disgusting.”
Fabien Onteniente, the director of Disco which starred Depardieu in 2007, stated that he will not collaborate with the actor again after watching a documentary where actress Hélène Darras claimed she was assaulted by Depardieu during the filming of the movie. In an interview with FranceInfo news channel, Onteniente expressed that he cannot condone such unacceptable behavior and it goes against his personal values. He also highlighted the issue of omertà, or code of silence, within the French film industry when it comes to sexual violence. He believes that there is a tendency to deny or cover up these incidents due to the industry’s closed and exclusive nature.
Darras recounted an instance where Depardieu objectified her and invited her to his dressing room. She declined, but claims he later assaulted her on set by touching her body. She felt scared and no one on set intervened. She chose not to speak up at the time for fear of being ostracized at a young age. However, after speaking with the documentary team in September, she filed a formal police report against Depardieu.
Investigators are currently examining Darras’s complaint to determine if it is subject to a time limit and if formal action can be taken against Depardieu.
During a documented telephone conversation featured in the film, Depardieu stated that he would refrain from commenting on the program’s contents.
The film also featured an interview with actress Charlotte Arnould, who reported to the police five years ago that Depardieu had raped and sexually assaulted her at his home in Paris in 2018. At the time, Arnould was 22 and Depardieu, a friend of her father, was 70. In December 2020, Depardieu was officially charged with rape and sexual assault in relation to the incident. His lawyers have refuted all accusations made against him.
According to Arnould’s statement in the documentary, she was suffering from anorexia during the reported assault, which she described as a “complete nightmare”.
In October, Depardieu wrote a public letter to Le Figaro where he refuted all accusations and stated that any interaction with Arnould was consensual. He claimed to be a victim of a media-fueled attack and asserted that he has never mistreated a woman.
Depardieu, one of France’s most famous actors, has appeared in more than 170 films and gained international fame with English-language roles. Despite being placed under formal investigation for rape, he has continued to work prolifically in French cinema in recent years. But he faced protests outside several singing gigs across France earlier this year, with women shouting “shame” and holding banners against sexual violence.
During the Thursday airing of the documentary, actress Sarah Brooks, known for her appearance in a TV series alongside Depardieu in 2015, shared an alleged incident where he repeatedly tried to put his hand into her shorts while taking a photo. Despite her pushing him away multiple times, he persisted. When she spoke up to the TV crew present, Depardieu reportedly responded with, “I thought you wanted to make it in cinema,” which was met with laughter from those around them.
The documentary revealed that Manuel Alduy, who oversees cinema and international development at France Télévisions, has halted any collaborations with Depardieu. Alduy stated that it is not acceptable to honor and praise Gérard Depardieu.
Marc Missonnier, leader of the French film producer union, remarked on Depardieu’s treatment of women in the film business: “There was an acceptance of his actions, which was a misstep.”
Jean-Louis Livi, who served as Depardieu’s agent for many years, stated in the documentary that the actor is a cornerstone of French cinema. Livi expressed that he knows Depardieu well and believes him to be neither a rapist nor a predator, but rather a larger-than-life figure and a symbol of the industry. Livi described Depardieu as a “monster” in terms of his talent and presence, but also as a revered and iconic figure.
Source: theguardian.com
