DRUGGED AND ABUSED: NO MORE SHAME

(Soumission chimique: Pour que la honte change de camp)

North American Premiere | France | 2025 | Documentary | 95 min | In French with English subtitles

Directed by: Linda Bendali
Written by: Linda Bendali, Andréa Rawlins-Gaston
Produced by: Andréa Rawlins-Gaston, Patrice Lorton (Capa Presse), France Télévisions
Cinematography: Benjamin Celier
Original Score: Thomas Dappelo
Film Editing: Luc Golfin, Luc Belmondo
Cast: Gisèle Pelicot, Caroline Darian, Dominique Pelicot
International Sales: Studio TF1
Original Broadcast: France 2, January 2025

Synopsis

In December 2024, Dominique Pelicot and 49 other men were famously convicted of rape in a trial that sent shockwaves through France and beyond. Over a period of ten years, Dominique had solicited some 70 strangers to sexually assault his drugged and unconscious wife, Gisèle, who has since become an icon of extraordinary strength and courage the world over. Coming to grips with that horrific truth, their daughter Caroline has worked tirelessly to raise public awareness of the shocking reality of a widespread scourge of drug-facilitated rape in France and to recount the similar stories of other victims, in a bold attempt to shift the shame of rape from victim to perpetrator.

Director’s biography

Investigative journalist and documentary filmmaker Linda Bendali has conducted many investigations and directed numerous episodes for French TV series, including Histoire Immédiate (2014), Lundi en histoires (2015), Spécial Investigation (2015), Le doc du dimanche (2016), Crisis Unit (2017-2018), and La case du siècle (2021). She has also written and directed the TV documentary feature Paris sportifs, les bookmakers raflent la mise (2023).