Benoît Jacquot (; born 5 February 1947) is a French film director and screenwriter who has had a varied career in European cinema.
In July 2024, Jacquot was charged with rape, including of a minor, and was barred from directing and having contact with minors.
Life and career
Born in Paris, Jacquot began his career as assistant director of Marguerite Duras films, including Nathalie Granger, India Song, and also actor in the 1973 short film La Sœur du cadre.
He turned to writing and directing with the 1975 film The Musician Killer, which starred Anna Karina.
He has directed over forty films, including La Désenchantée (1990), starring Judith Godrèche, and A Single Girl (1995), starring Virginie Ledoyen.
In 2003, he directed Massenet's opera Werther conducted by Antonio Pappano at Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.
His film Farewell, My Queen opened the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival in February 2012. He also received the René Clair Award that year.
His 2014 film Three Hearts competed for the Golden Lion at the 71st Venice International Film Festival.
Sexual abuse allegations and criminal charges
In January 2024, Judith Godrèche accused Jacquot of grooming her when she was 14. Following the accusations made by Godrèche, several actresses came forward with allegations against Jacquot, including Julia Roy, Vahina Giocante and Isild Le Besco. In February 2024, Godrèche filed an official police complaint against Jacquot accusing him of "rapes with violence of a minor less than 15 years old".
On 1 July 2024, he was questioned along with Jacques Doillon over sexual abuse of Godrèche. The two directors would also be taken into custody by the Juvenile Protection Brigade. Le Besco filed a complaint over alleged rape during her own relationship with Jacquot that also started when she was underage, while Roy accused Jacquot of sexually assaulting her in a "context of violence and moral constraint which lasted several years."
Filmography
Film
{| class="wikitable"
! Year
! Title
! width=65 |Director
! width=65 |Writer
! Notes
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| 1976
| The Musician Killer
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| 1977
| Closet Children
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| 1979
| Return to the Beloved
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| 1981
| The Wings of the Dove
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| 1986
| Corps et Biens
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| 1987
| Buisson ardent
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| 1988
| The Beggars
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| 1988
| Le Voyage au bout de la nuit
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| Medium-length film (also as cinematographer)
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| 1990
| La Désenchantée
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| 1994
| 3000 scénarios contre un virus
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| Omnibus film
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| 1995
| A Single Girl
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| 1997
| Seventh Heaven
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| 1998
| The School of Flesh
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| 1999
| No Scandal
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| 2000
| False Servant
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| 2000
| Sade
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| 2001
| Tosca
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| 2002
| Adolphe
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| 2004
| Right Now
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| 2006
| The Untouchable
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| 2009
| Villa Amalia
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| 2010
| Deep in the Woods
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| 2012
| Farewell, My Queen
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| 2014
| Three Hearts
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| 2015
| Diary of a Chambermaid
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| 2016
| Never Ever <!-- French title is À jamais ... English title is Never Ever ... previous titles were Body Artist and Son corps ... refs: Venice http://www.labiennale.org/it/cinema/73-mostra/film/sel-uff/fuori-concorso/a-jamais.html ... Toronto http://www.tiff.net/films/never-ever/ -->
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| 2018
| Eva
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| 2019
| Casanova, Last Love
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| 2021
| Suzanna Andler
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| 2022
| Par coeurs
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Short film
{| class="wikitable"
! Year
! Title
! width=65 |Director
! width=65 |Writer
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| 2009
| Atelier jardin
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| 2013
| Venice 70: Future Reloaded
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Documentary film
- Par cœur (1998)
- Gentleman Rissient (2016)
Documentary short
- The Death of the Young English Aviator (1993) (Also editor)
- Écrire (1993)
TV series
{| class="wikitable"
! Year
! Title
! width=65 |Director
! width=65 |Writer
! Notes
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| 1993
| Cuentos de Borges
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| 1996
| Un siècle d'écrivains
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| Documentary series (episode "J. D. Salinger")
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TV movies
{| class="wikitable"
! Year
! Title
! width=65 |Director
! width=65 |Writer
! Notes
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| 1974
| Psychanalyse
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| Documentary film
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| 1982
| Une villa aux environs de New York
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| 1988
| The Beast of the Jungle
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| 1988
| Elvire Jouvet 40
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| 1989
| Alfred Deller: portrait d'une voix
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| 1990
| Dans la solitude des champs de coton
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| 1995
| La Place Royale
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| 1995
| La Vie de Marianne
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| 2004
| Princesse Marie
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| 2007
| Gaspard le bandit
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| 2010
| Werther
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| 2010
| The Counterfeiters
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As actor
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
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| 1973
| La Sœur du cadre
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| Short film
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| 1975
| India Song
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| Voice
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| 1997
| Le Théâtre des matières
| The writer
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| 1979
| Le Navire Night
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| Voice
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| 1979
| Short Memory
| Monsieur Mann's secretary
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| 2012
| Bad Girl
| The director
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| 2012
| Looking for Hortense
| Kevadian
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| 2012
| Jeanne
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| Short film
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| 2013
| Chinese Puzzle
| Monsieur Rousseau
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|}
Awards and nominations
{| class="wikitable"
! Year
! Title
! Award/Nomination
|-
| 1982
| Une villa aux environs de New York
| Nominated—Cannes Film Festival – Prix Un certain regard
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| 1997
| Seventh Heaven
| Nominated—Venice Film Festival – Golden Lion
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| 1998
| The School of Flesh
| Nominated—Cannes Film Festival –
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| 1999
| No Scandal
| Nominated—Venice Film Festival – Golden Lion
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| 2004
| Right Now
| Nominated—Cannes Film Festival – Prix Un certain regard
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| 2006
| The Untouchable
| Nominated—Venice Film Festival – Golden Lion
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| 2012
| Farewell, My Queen
| Louis Delluc Prize for Best Film<br>Nominated—Berlin Film Festival – Golden Bear<br>Nominated—César Award for Best Film<br>Nominated—César Award for Best Director<br>Nominated—César Award for Best Adaptation<br>Nominated—Globes de Cristal Award for Best Film<br>Nominated—Lumière Award for Best Film<br>Nominated—Lumière Award for Best Screenplay
|-
| 2014
| Three Hearts
| Nominated—Louis Delluc Prize for Best Film<br>Nominated—Lumière Award for Best Film<br>Nominated—Lumière Award for Best Director<br>Nominated—Venice Film Festival – Golden Lion
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| 2015
| Diary of a Chambermaid
| Nominated—Berlin Film Festival – Golden Bear<br>Nominated—César Award for Best Adaptation
|}