Sexual violence in cinema: actress Sara Forestier calls on parliamentarians to "signal the end of impunity"

“Protect the victims, legislate! Sound the end of impunity, legislate!”, hammered actress Sara Forestier during a round table on the sidelines of the Cannes festival last weekend, on the subject of the fight against sexist and sexual violence, reported Tuesday May 19 France Culture.

The actress calls on parliamentarians to support the bill aimed at strengthening the fight against violence committed in the world of cinema and culture. This bill was presented last week to the National Assembly, a year after the publication of a parliamentary report which reported “systemic” sexual violence in the sector.

In a speech lasting several minutes, Sara Forestier – who herself suffered violence during filming – launched an appeal “to all political forces, to all presidents of parliamentary groups”but also “all trades” cinema, for “push for this bill to be put on the agenda.” To be examined, the text must be included on the agenda in an already very busy legislative calendar.

For the actress, “It’s a revealing moment.” “Are politicians really going to do something about #MeToo or was it just hype all along?”she asks. Sara Forestier believes that until the law is adopted, it will be difficult to make employers respect their obligations.

The bill, carried by deputies Erwan Balanant (Democrats) and Sandrine Rousseau (Ecologist), has 19 articles. It is notably a question of strengthening the protection of minors in cinema, of prohibiting any financial sanctions “against those who report” acts of sexist and sexual violence and harassment, or even to create a “new offense requiring employers to report facts brought to their attention”.