In a new documentary, Gérard Depardieu makes one vulgar comment after another. In the context of the broadcast, it was announced that a second complaint for sexual abuse is pending against Depardieu. Does the famous and infamous actor still have a future in the French film world? We call film journalist Lieven Trio.
Joris VliegenDecember 9, 2023, 3:34 PM
Hello Lieven, what exactly can be seen in the French documentary?
“It is about the TV program Complément d’onderzoek on France 2, which shows images from the 2018 documentary by Yann Moix, who then followed Depardieu in North Korea. That documentary was never actually finished or broadcast because there was a conflict between Moix and the producer of the film. Now the producer himself has leaked a number of images to the press, much to the dissatisfaction of Moix, who wants to sue the producer.
“In the images you see a man, Gérard Depardieu, who seems completely obsessed with sex, who cannot keep quiet about it, and who makes references to sex at every opportunity. For example, he makes obscene comments to his interpreter: he says that he can see her underwear and that he has an erection. It’s all very misogynistic and inappropriate, especially considering the power relationship. He is the powerful Gérard Depardieu and speaks in a misogynistic way towards people who work for him, which is of course the essence of MeToo. At one point he also fantasizes about a ten-year-old girl who might have an orgasm while riding a horse. These are of course very tasteless and inappropriate comments.”
Will the French get a new image of the actor, or was it already tarnished?
“Is it surprising what we see? Not entirely, several complaints have already been filed against Depardieu for sexual violence. Just before the broadcast of the images, it was announced that the actress Hélène Darras had filed a complaint for sexual assault on the set of Disco, a film from 2008. There is also an investigation into rape and sexual violence in 2020 and at least 16 others have since been launched. women accused him of sexual violence, without necessarily filing a complaint. There are many testimonies of how he put his hand down their pants without them wanting it.
“So there were already a lot of indications or rumors, but Depardieu always denied them all. The environment didn’t really respond to it, he didn’t lose any weight either. Because of course he is Depardieu, one of the greatest, most powerful actors in French cinema. But now it is the first time that you see how he expresses himself and what he says in black and white, in a way that is undeniable. You don’t really see him do anything, but you hear him say all kinds of things, and that really reflects his character. Many people are now naturally wondering: if he thinks it’s okay to say this on camera, what happens when there’s no camera around?”
So the images partly confirm the rumors that were circulating about him?
“These are not images of physical sexual violence, but it characterizes his character and makes it plausible that what all those women say about him is true. You also immediately hear reactions that put things into perspective in the media: ‘Oui, c’est Gérard. It is comme ça. Some said that’s just how he is: ‘We know him. That’s his humor.’
“But MeToo has clearly denounced that you don’t have to put up with that. I think that is also what happened to us with the Bart De Pauw case, where it was often said that it was meant to be humorous. But because of that power relationship, it does have an impact, because it is so difficult for those women to go against it or it can be very overwhelming and simply harmful. With Depardieu it is also about things that were not at all an issue with De Pauw, namely physical sexual violence.
“In France there is certainly more opposition to MeToo and what is called the cancel culture. Actress Catherine Deneuve, for example, had previously indicated that she thinks what is being said about Depardieu is a bit exaggerated, that he likes to flirt a bit and that it is an exaggeration to call it rape or assault. But now you feel because of these images, which paint a very negative picture of him, that there is a lot of outrage, also in France, and that it is also being expressed. There is a feeling that he has now been exposed. Someone also said: ‘He is no longer a monstre sacré, but a monster tout court.’ Another response was: ‘It makes me want to throw up.’ So there is a lot of commotion and outrage.”
Is Depardieu’s acting career now over, or can he still work?
“That remains difficult to predict. It’s France, it’s Depardieu. It is certainly less easy to dismiss than those statements by people for which there is no evidence and which remains word for word. It is apparently very difficult, especially in France, to make this clear and to be heard. But with these kinds of circumstances it becomes credible and it becomes more difficult to ignore it.
“Now the question is: how will the film industry respond to this? Are they going to say: we are not going to cast him anymore, or will there be a counter-movement that says: we will continue with him. France, for example, is also the country where Johnny Depp, even before he emerged victorious at his second trial, was able to make his comeback in the film Jeanne du Barry by Maïwenn. It is simply something that is possible in France: still casting people who are controversial. That’s kind of part of it.
“It may also depend on how he himself will react. He has denied everything so far, who knows, maybe he will now approach it in a different way in the media. He can come up with an explanation that it is completely taken out of context, that this is not him. Or he can say that he has a problem and is addicted to sex, and that he is going to work on himself. If he shows some kind of insight into the problem, then I think he can perhaps be forgiven. On the other hand, those two criminal cases are still hanging over him. The question is also how they will turn out. Of course, if you’re in prison, you can’t act in films.”
Also read
2023-12-09 14:34:16
#Uproar #France #devastating #Gérard #Depardieu #documentary #time #expresses #black #white #denied
