MeToo Cinema: ten actresses blame director Philippe Lioret

In a large survey published this Tuesday, April 9 by franceinfoten French actresses report “forced kisses “, an environment “unhealthy” AND “inappropriate gestures” during and outside the casting of his film All our wishesin 2010. Some were even forced to show their chests even though nothing in the scenario required it.

A consolidated operating procedure

The facts date back to the summer of 2010. The director, at the height of his glory after the success of his last two films Welcome AND I’m fine, don’t worry encounter “about fifty actresses”including Judith Godrèche, Laetitia Casta and Virginie Efira, for the two main female roles in his next film, an adaptation of the novel Other lives beyond mine by Emmanuel Carrère.

The ten actresses, questioned by the investigative unit of Radio France, practically everyone tells the same scenario. Philippe Loiret received them for work sessions, sometimes on Saturdays, when the production teams rested and the offices were closed. He would ask them to act out an intimate scene in which he would give them the answer. He would have asked some to show his chest. To others he would have given a forced kiss.

Stories confirmed by the statements of Giuliaformer casting assistant: Philippe Lioret “ he did not deprive himself of touching the base of the breasts, of placing himself on the actresses’ necks, of kissing them. She was really, really awkward and completely out of character for the scene, explains those who testify on condition of anonymity. The actresses were so uncomfortable in Philippe’s arms that they were groped like that.”

The ten actresses report ” power abuse “cleverly orchestrated by the man who promised them a role in his feature film.

Facts that date back to the 90s

One of the actresses interviewed, under the pseudonym Nathalie, stands out from the others with her story. Unlike Hélène Seuzaret, Elodie Frenck, Emilie Deville, Marie Gillain, Amandine Dewasmes and the other alleged victims who testify anonymously for Radio France, the actress met Philippe Lioret well before the filming of All our wishes. He describes a very similar scene, which occurred in the 1990s, after a shared meal with the director who allegedly forcibly kissed her.

“It’s humiliating to be kissed violently like that. How does he have the right to kiss me without my consent? Where does he have the right to treat me like that, brutally? At the time, I didn’t think it was sexual assault. But today, looking back, I think it was. »

Asked by franceinfoPhilippe Lioret denied having it “I never felt like I wanted to take advantage of anyone in any way [sa] life “. His lawyer, Solange Doumic, says that her client “ he always stopped when faced with refusal”.