Philippe Garrel is a director now 75 years old. Among his notable films are The secret child (1979), I can’t hear the guitar anymore (1991), or even The Regular Lovers (2005). His latest movie The big cart, will be released in cinemas on Wednesday September 13, 2023. But its promotion risks being strongly tainted by the accusations of sexual assault against the filmmaker. Wednesday August 30, 2023, Mediapart shared a lengthy survey. The independent media cites five actresses who denounce acts of sexual assault. Four of them relate to attempted unwanted kisses. One of them, Jeanne (her name has been changed by the newspaper) recounts having received an email in February 2019 inviting her to respond to a survey on the integration of graduates from higher education establishments under the Ministry of Culture. “I don’t think you have any idea how many times I sent a director or director upside down because during an audition they explicitly asked me to sleep with them. I’m sick of it! The latest was Philippe Garrel. […] It should be sorted! And that the school prepares us better for this sad reality!, she reportedly wrote. A copy of her response was sent to the newspaper by the person concerned.
Marie Vialle: “I step back and shout”
Actress Marie Vialle is also one of those who testified to Mediapart. From 1994 to 1997, that is from her 20 to 23 years, she was at the Conservatory, with Philippe Garrel as a teacher. The latter would have announced to him that his project “to write a film about her”. During business meetings, he allegedly tried to kiss her, “rising suddenly to find himself a few centimeters from his faceclose to her mouth before she pushes him away”details the newspaper. “I pull back and scream – not very loud. I was surprised, I didn’t want to”reported the concerned. “I can’t make the movie if I don’t sleep with you”would have retorted Louis Garrel’s father, insisting he needed to know her “for real” to make a film about her. The actresses Anna Mouglalis and Laurence Cordier also testified to the newspaper. No complaints have been filed to date. Philippe Garrel is staying for now presumed innocent facts with which he is charged. The director claimed that he was not “never happened to kiss a woman against her will”. “Not sure of his memory”he however indicated to Mediapart that he had “maybe tried to kiss one of them”, and apologized if he could “hurt actresses.”