French Male Film Stars Tell #MeToo Inquiry About 'Clumsy' Remarks

Some of France's biggest male movie stars have testified at a parliamentary inquiry into sexual violence in the film business, saying they might have missed or even been guilty of inappropriate remarks before the #MeToo movement changed attitudes.

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PARIS — Some of France's biggest male movie stars have testified at a parliamentary inquiry into sexual violence in the film business, saying they might have missed or even been guilty of inappropriate remarks before the #MeToo movement changed attitudes.

French actor Jean Dujardin, a Best Actor Oscar winner in 2012 for his turn in The Artist (2011), as well as domestic silver screen heroes Gilles Lellouche, Pio Marmai and Jean-Paul Rouve agreed to speak to lawmakers in February behind closed doors.

A transcript of their remarks was published on the website of the French National Assembly on March 18, which AFP consulted.

Dujardin, 52, welcomed the #MeToo movement to denounce sexual violence, which has led to a series of scandals in the French industry.

"We don't see everything — and perhaps we don't want to see," Dujardin said when asked why male actors had not spoken out earlier to protect their women colleagues or reported sexual violence. "I think the #MeToo movement has been useful from that point of view."