In a message published on her Instagram account, Wednesday February 21, actress Nora Hamzawi displayed her opposition to the release of Jacques Doillon’s latest film, CE2, in which she plays one of the main roles, after the filmmaker was accused of sexual violence by several actresses. The film’s producer, Bruno Pesery, confirmed on Friday the release of the film, scheduled for March 27.
“I do not support this decision which, in my opinion, represents contempt for the words of women”, she said in a “story”. For the actress, “what is happening in the cinema sector, and which I hope extends to other sectors, is essential and important. This is the thing to support as a priority today”.
Alongside director Benoît Jacquot, Jacques Doillon is targeted in an investigation for “rape of a minor under 15 years old by a person in authority, rape, violence by a partner, and sexual assault on a minor over 15 years old by a person in authority”following a complaint from Judith Godrèche, who toured with him for The 15 year old girlreleased in 1989. The behavior of Jacques Doillon was also denounced by the actresses Isild Le Besco and Anna Mouglalis, who entrusted their testimonies to the Monde. The director responded by denouncing “ arbitrary denunciations, false accusations and lies”from the three actresses.
“An invitation to awareness”
For Mr. Pesery, it is important that the decision to release the feature film “should not be received as an expression of deafness or indifference with regard to the accusations made against its author: they are serious, we have taken stock of this from the first hour”he wrote in a press release, considering that it is not possible to adapt an exit “on a judicial calendar”.
The production house, Arena Films, justifies its choice by the teamwork which allowed the film – shot four years ago – to see the light of day, “whether actors, technicians, service providers, producers, distributors, press officers or exhibitors”. It is “an invitation to awareness, dialogue and vigilance”underlined the producer, emphasizing the “nearly forty years” separating the production of the film from the facts of which Jacques Doillon is accused.
The film was shown at the Angoulême festival in 2021 and was presented to journalists at the start of the year. No information was given on its promotion upon release.