PARIS, France, July 4: Renowned French movie director Benoît Jacquot, 77, was charged on Wednesday with the rape of actresses Julia Roy and Isild Le Besco, according to the Paris prosecutor’s office. The charges are part of a broader wave of #MeToo accusations that have shaken France's movie industry.

Jacquot is one of two directors accused of sexual misconduct following allegations made by actress Judith Godrèche, who claimed he raped her during an abusive relationship that began when she was 14 and he was 39.

Julia Roy, 34, and Isild Le Besco, 41, came forward with their accusations against Jacquot after Godrèche’s revelations. Roy, who acted in Jacquot’s films between 2016 and 2021, accused him of sexual and physical abuse. Le Besco alleged that Jacquot raped her multiple times between the ages of 16 and 25.

Both Jacquot and fellow director Jacques Doillon, 80, were taken into police custody on Monday for questioning. Doillon was released on Tuesday on medical grounds and without being charged, although investigations are ongoing.

The charges against Jacquot include the rape of Roy in 2013 and physical and sexual assault between 2018 and 2019. Le Besco’s accusations relate to incidents from 1998 to 2000, when she turned 18. Jacquot, known for directing films such as “A Single Girl” and “Farewell, My Queen,” was released on bail set at €25,000 (about $27,000) under strict conditions. He has been prohibited from contacting his accusers, ordered to seek psychological care, barred from working with minors, and forbidden from directing films or making public appearances related to his previous activities.

Jacquot’s lawyer, Julia Minkowski, described the restrictions as a disproportionate “judicial cancellation” of her client and announced plans to appeal the charges. Minkowski could not be immediately reached for further comment.

Godrèche's allegations against Jacquot, which fell outside the statute of limitations, inspired Roy and Le Besco to come forward. "But I feel heard through this decision,” Godrèche said on Instagram following the charges against Jacquot.

In France, prosecutors can seek charges in complex criminal cases, but special magistrates with broad investigative powers handle the cases. These magistrates decide whether to charge defendants based on the evidence and can drop charges if the evidence is deemed insufficient for trial.