“ITN Productions will release a fast-turnaround documentary on Channel 5 about France’s mass rape trial that shocked the world. The Pelicot Rape Case: A Town on Trial follows a wider examination of the circumstances surrounding Frenchwoman Gisèle Pelicot, a 72-year-old woman drugged by her former husband, Dominique, and abused for a decade by at least”, — write: www.hollywoodreporter.com
The Pelicot Rape Case: A Town on Trial follows a wider examination of the circumstances surrounding Frenchwoman Gisèle Pelicot, a 72-year-old woman drugged by her former husband, Dominique, and abused for a decade by at least 70 strangers he had recruited online.
The mass rape trial sparked outrage around the globe with Ms Pelicot waiving her right to anonymity, becoming a feminist icon in the process, so the admitted criminal behavior of her husband could be heard in court in Avignon, France — in the full glare of the media.
French prosecutors demanded that Dominique Pelicot be jailed for 20 years, the maximum available sentence. Meanwhile, the lawyers for 33 of the perpetrators have made a special plea that their clients were acting under diminished responsibility.
The Channel 5 program will air on Dec. 11 in the U.K., spotlighting the her brave response from a psychological, legal and cultural perspective. Clips from the documentary include an interview with an alleged rapist, which is visually and vocally anonymized.
“Our news heritage and the agility of our production teams means ITN Productions is uniquely placed to produce a rigorous, detailed documentary tracking the impact of these disturbing crimes as the trial unfolds,” said Ian Rumsey, ITN managing director of content. “Securing exclusive on-camera access with one of the alleged rapists has been part of our commitment to telling the wider story of Gisèle Pelicot’s astonishing bravery.”
Jeremy Daldry is executive producer on The Pelicot Rape Case: A Town on Trial. Anna Davis and Oliver Price are producer-directors for ITN Productions. It was commissioned by Denise Seneviratne, at Channel 5. Post-production is by ITN Post.
Subscribe Sign Up