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One need only look to France’s literary heroes, politicians, and films to see the country’s obsession with young girls — and its penchant for protecting pedophiles. In 2020, the French writer Gabriel Matzneff was outed as the country’s Jeffrey Epstein, after writing about his sexual relations with minors for decades with little consequence. A year later, prominent French intellectual and politician Olivier Duhamel admitted to sexually abusing his stepson following publication of a memoir by his stepdaughter Camille Kouchner. As the last generation to grow up with such laissez-faire attitudes about child abuse comes of age as artists, they are leading the charge on shifting mores as the #MeToo reckoning finally comes for France.

That maturation is apparent in the first feature film from writer/director Emmanuelle Nicot, “Love According to Dalva,” an audacious and unsettling portrait of a young girl dealing with the immediate after-effects of sexual abuse...

Dominique Boutonnat, president of France’s powerful National Film Board (Cnc), has been indicted for attempted rape and sexual assault on Thursday following a complaint filed by his 22-year-old godson on Oct. 7.

The news was confirmed by the court of Nanterre near Paris to the Afp. Boutonnat had been held in custody since Wednesday morning. The alleged sexual assault occurred in August during a holiday in Greece. Along with the indictment, Boutonnat is also being banned from contacting the alleged victim.

The lawyer of the alleged victim, Caroline Toby, told the Afp that Boutonnat was a paternal figure for her client even though they were not related by blood.

Boutonnat’s lawyer, Emmanuel Marsigny, said on Wednesday that his client was denying the allegations against him, and said today that the indictment was “precipitated” since there hadn’t been a “confrontation” between Boutonnat and the alleged victim in front of French authorities during the custody.

Dominique Boutonnat, president of France’s powerful National Film Board (Cnc), is being sued for attempted rape and sexual assault by his 22-year-old godson. He has been held in custody since Wednesday morning.

The news was first reported by news channel Bfm TV. The complaint was filed by Boutonnat’s godson on Oct. 7 and the alleged sexual assault occurred in August during a holiday in Greece.

“Dominique Boutonnat contests having committed any wrongdoing, he is fully serene about the outcome of this procedure,” Boutonnat’s lawyer Emmanuel Marsigny told the Afp. The Nanterre prosecutor told Le Figaro newspaper that Boutonnat’s custody could end on Thursday or Friday.

Variety has contacted the Cnc for comment.

The org 50/50, whose mandate is to help victims of sexual violence and increase gender parity and diversity in the industry, has demanded that Boutonnat step down from his position for the time being, so that...