A highly anticipated speech. This Friday, February 23, the 49th edition of the César takes place in a particular context. In recent months, French cinema has been shaken by successive scandals. After the wave of accusations targeting Gérard Depardieu in December 2023, Judith Godrèche denounced the influence she suffered from Benoît Jacquot when she was a teenager. Few weeks later, the 51-year-old actress accused Jacques Doillon of having attacked her when she was only 15 years old. Since then, Dany Boon’s ex-partner has filed a complaint against the two directors, who benefit from the presumption of innocence. Became a spearhead of the #MeToo movement in FranceJudith Godrèche gave a speech on sexist and sexual violence in the world of the Seventh Art on the César stage, after being acclaimed by the public.
“It’s complicated to find myself in front of all of you, this evening, there are so many of you. But deep down, I imagine it had to happen, our faces face to face and eyes to eyes“, she began, her voice hoarse with emotion. Before delivering a poignant message: “For some time now, words have been loosening. The image of our idealized fathers is being eroded. Power seems almost swayed. SWould it be possible for us to face the truth? Take our responsibilities? To be the actors and actresses of a world that questions itself? During her speech, Judith Godrèche was surprised not to hear “only a whisper, half a word” since she broke the silence. “I speak but I can’t hear you. I know it’s scary. Lose grants, lose your job. I’m scared too.” underlined the one who fears being “blacklisted”. And to continue: “My silence has been my driving force for 30 years now. However, I imagine the beautiful melody that we could compose together made of truths, it wouldn’t hurt, I promise you (…) It’s nothing compared to a child being attacked (…) by an all-powerful adult under the silent gaze of a team. To a director, who while whispering drags me to his bed under the pretext of understanding who I really am.” From then on, Tess’s mother invited the audience “to have the courage to say out loud what everyone else is thinking”. An approach which is part of its desire to break the taboo and raise awareness.
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“Let’s have the courage to say out loud what everyone is thinking…”
The committed speech of Judith Godrèche on the stage of #César2024. pic.twitter.com/8EryHo0hGl
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César 2024: Judith Godrèche’s intervention contested by a cinema figure
If many personalities support and welcome the intervention of Judith Godrèche during the 48th night of the César, others disapprove of this initiative. This is particularly the case of Nicolas Seydoux. Guest on the set of BFM Businessthis Wednesday, February 21, the chairman and CEO of the Gaumont group gave his opinion on this speech. “Should we talk about it that day? The Academy of Caesars has decided to talk about it, it’s its choice, it wouldn’t have been mine”, he declared bluntly, without calling into question the facts denounced by Noé Boon’s mother. Before adding: “What Judith Godrèche talks about is a criminal court caseit’s not the Caesar’s business”. If the latter is not “absolutely unaware” facts denounced by the actress nominated for the César three times during her career, he does not turn a blind eye to “what happens in the cinema”.
Photo credits: Screenshot Canal+