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Benoît Jacquot

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Benoît Jacquot
Jacquot in 2013
Born (1947-02-05) 5 February 1947 (age 77)
Paris, France
Occupation(s)Film director, screenwriter
Years active1975–2024

Benoît Jacquot (French: [bənwa ʒako]; born 5 February 1947) is a French film director and screenwriter who has had a varied career in European cinema.

In July 2024, Jacquot was charged with rape, including of a minor, and was barred from directing and having contact with minors.[1][2]

Life and career

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Born in Paris, Jacquot began his career as assistant director of Marguerite Duras films, including Nathalie Granger, India Song, and also actor in the 1973 short film La Sœur du cadre.

He turned to writing and directing with the 1975 film The Musician Killer, which starred Anna Karina.[3]

He has directed over forty films, the most notable of which to American audiences are La Désenchantée (1990), starring Judith Godrèche, and A Single Girl (1995), starring Virginie Ledoyen. [4]

In 2003, he directed Massenet's opera Werther conducted by Antonio Pappano at Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

His film Farewell, My Queen opened the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival in February 2012.[5][6] He also received the René Clair Award that year.[citation needed]

His 2014 film Three Hearts competed for the Golden Lion at the 71st Venice International Film Festival.[7]

Sexual abuse allegations and criminal charges

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In January 2024, Judith Godrèche accused Jacquot of grooming her when she was 14.[8][9][10] Following the accusations made by Godrèche, several actresses came forward with allegations against Jacquot, including Julia Roy, Vahina Giocante and Isild Le Besco.[11] In February 2024, Godrèche filed an official police complaint against Jacquot accusing him of "rapes with violence of a minor less than 15 years old".[12]

On July 1, 2024, he was questioned along with Jacques Doillon over sexual abuse of Godrèche.[13] The two directors would also be taken into custody by the Juvenile Protection Brigade.[13] On July 3, 2024, Jacquot was charged with rape.[1]

Prior to the charge, Jacquot was also placed under formal investigation for claims of raping and sexually assaulting Roy between 1998 and 2000 and Le Besco in 2013.[14] Le Besco filed a complaint over alleged rape during her own relationship with Jacquot that also started when she was underage, while Roy accused Jacquot of sexually assaulting her in a "context of violence and moral constraint which lasted several years."[14] Jacquot would be preliminarily charged with raping Roy and Le Basco.[15][1] On July 4, 2024, the Paris prosecutor's office confirmed that the rape charges were now made official and also announced that Jacquot was charged with the rape of a minor, Le Besco, and would also be required to serve as a special witness in another case involving alleged rape of Le Besco, in this case by a partner over a 10-month span in 2007.[2] He would be released from prison that day, but also ordered to undergo psychological treatment, and was barred from contacting his alleged victims and witnesses.[2] Jacquot also cannot work either as a director or in any capacity with minors and was ordered to pay bail of 25,000 euros ($27,000).[2] He also remains under judicial supervision.[16]

Filmography

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As filmmaker

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Year Title Credited as Notes
Director Screenwriter
1974 Psychanalyse Yes Yes Documentary film (TV)
1976 The Musician Killer Yes Yes
1977 Closet Children Yes Yes
1979 Return to the Beloved Yes
1981 The Wings of the Dove Yes Yes
1982 Une villa aux environs de New York Yes Telefilm
Nominated—Cannes Film FestivalPrix Un certain regard
1986 Corps et Biens Yes Yes
1987 Buisson ardent Yes
1988 The Beggars Yes Yes
1988 The Beast of the Jungle Yes Telefilm
1988 Elvire Jouvet 40 Yes Telefilm
1988 Le Voyage au bout de la nuit Yes Medium-length film (also as cinematographer)
1989 Alfred Deller: portrait d'une voix Yes Telefilm
1990 La Désenchantée Yes Yes
1990 Dans la solitude des champs de coton Yes Telefilm
1993 Cuentos de Borges Yes Yes TV series
1993 The Death of the Young English Aviator Yes Short documentary (also as editor)
1993 Écrire Yes Short documentary
1994 3000 scénarios contre un virus Yes Omnibus film
1995 La Place Royale Yes Telefilm
1995 A Single Girl Yes Yes
1995 La Vie de Marianne Yes Yes Telefilm
1996 Un siècle d'écrivains Yes Yes Documentary series (episode: "J. D. Salinger")
1997 Seventh Heaven Yes Yes Nominated—Venice Film FestivalGolden Lion
1998 The School of Flesh Yes Nominated—Cannes Film FestivalPalme d'Or
1998 Par cœur Yes Documentary film
1999 No Scandal Yes Yes Nominated—Venice Film FestivalGolden Lion
2000 False Servant Yes
2000 Sade Yes
2001 Tosca Yes
2002 Adolphe Yes Yes
2004 Princesse Marie Yes Telefilm
2004 Right Now Yes Yes Nominated—Cannes Film FestivalPrix Un certain regard
2006 The Untouchable Yes Yes Nominated—Venice Film FestivalGolden Lion
2007 Gaspard le bandit Yes Telefilm
2009 Villa Amalia Yes Yes
2009 Atelier jardin Yes Yes Short film
2010 Werther Yes Telefilm
2010 The Counterfeiters Yes Yes Telefilm
2010 Deep in the Woods Yes Yes
2012 Farewell, My Queen Yes Yes Louis Delluc Prize for Best Film
Nominated—Berlin Film FestivalGolden Bear
Nominated—César Award for Best Film
Nominated—César Award for Best Director
Nominated—César Award for Best Adaptation
Nominated—Globes de Cristal Award for Best Film
Nominated—Lumières Award for Best Film
Nominated—Lumières Award for Best Screenplay
2013 Venice 70: Future Reloaded Yes Short film
2014 Three Hearts Yes Yes Nominated—Louis Delluc Prize for Best Film
Nominated—Lumières Award for Best Film
Nominated—Lumières Award for Best Director
Nominated—Venice Film FestivalGolden Lion
2015 Diary of a Chambermaid Yes Yes Nominated—Berlin Film FestivalGolden Bear
Nominated—César Award for Best Adaptation
2016 Gentleman Rissient Yes Documentary film
2016 Never Ever Yes
2018 Eva Yes Yes
2019 Casanova, Last Love Yes Yes
2021 Suzanna Andler Yes Yes
2022 Par coeurs Yes Yes

As actor

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Year Title Role Notes
1973 La Sœur du cadre Short film
1975 India Song Voice
1997 Le Théâtre des matières The writer
1979 Le Navire Night Voice
1979 Short Memory Monsieur Mann's secretary
2012 Bad Girl The director
2012 Looking for Hortense Kevadian
2012 Jeanne Short film
2013 Chinese Puzzle Monsieur Rousseau

References

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  1. ^ a b c Breeden, Auralein (3 July 2024). "French Director Benoît Jacquot is Charged with Rape". New York Times. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d "Prominent director targeted in French cinema's #MeToo wave charged with rape, assault of actors". Associated Press. 4 July 2024. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  3. ^ Clarke Fountain (2012). "NY Times.com: The Musician Killer". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on 26 October 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2010.
  4. ^ Chrisafis, Angelique (20 January 2024). "'What happened to me mustn't happen to the next generation: Judith Godrèche on grooming and France's #MeToo". the guardian.
  5. ^ "Marie Antoinette drama to open Berlin Film Festival". BBC. 5 January 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  6. ^ "Benoît Jacquot's Les Adieux à la reine to Open the 62nd Berlinale". Berlin Film Festival. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  7. ^ "Venice Film Festival Lineup Announced". Deadline Hollywood. 24 July 2014. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  8. ^ "French actress Judith Godrèche accuses directors of historical abuse". BBC News. 8 February 2024.
  9. ^ "Judith Godrèche tells Benoît Jacquot: I was 15 — it was wrong". The Times.
  10. ^ Cumming, Ed (10 January 2024). "Why the French are still reluctant to get on board with #MeToo". The Telegraph.
  11. ^ de Foucher, Lorraine; Lefilliâtre, Jérôme (8 February 2024). "Under the guise of cinema, director Benoît Jacquot set up a predatory system". Le Monde (in French). Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  12. ^ "French Actress Judith Godrèche Makes Official Rape Complaint Against Director Benoît Jacquot: Reports". Deadline. 7 February 2024.
  13. ^ a b Keslassy, Elsa (1 July 2024). "French Directors Benoit Jacquot, Jacques Doillon Questioned by Police Over Rape, Sexual Assault Accusations by Judith Godreche". Variety.
  14. ^ a b "French film director Benoît Jacquot placed under formal investigation for rape". France 24. 3 July 2024. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  15. ^ "French film director Jacquot charged with rape". Le Monde. 3 July 2024. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  16. ^ "France film director Jacquot charged with raping two actors". France 24. 4 July 2024. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
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