This is the scoop of the week! Producer Harvey Weinstein is officially accused of sexual harassment and rape by several actresses around the world. It took time for his case to finally be recognized in the public square!
Last Thursday, the New York Times published an article in which it announced that the famous mogul of Hollywood production had been fired by the board of directors of his company. The Weinstein Company, founded in 2005 by brothers Bob & Harvey Weinstein, to succeed their previous baby Miramax, is a major pillar in the American film industry. After Miramax was acquired by Disney in 2003, the new entity was created, integrating Dimension Films, Bob's successful production company specializing in genre films. The Weinsteins are great friends of Quentin Tarantino and their influence often carries Oscars. The Weinsteins have garnered more than 300 statuette nominations in their careers! We remember that the hyper-media distribution of The Artist had, in part, pleased the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (the voters for the Oscars).
However, behind the figure of cinephile that is Harvey Weinstein was obviously hiding an unhealthy sexual predator. Here lies the sadness that can emanate from this revelation. With Harvey Weinstein we get rid of a rapist but we lose a great lover of cinema, who has worked all his life to advance this industry. However, passion does not forgive immorality. The image conveyed of the American producer with the cigar and all its actresses at his feet is a reflection of who Harvey really is. To go further, Peter Biskind published a book with Cherche Midi in 2006 – translated Sex, Lies and Hollywood – which did not hide the unhealthy sexual impulses of the co-founder of one of Hollywood's major production/distribution companies. It was no secret to anyone in Hollywood but due to lack of concrete evidence, no serene attack could be unleashed against him. The Weinstein case is complex because it calls for financial support from the Democratic Party of Barrack Obama or Hillary Clinton, and its influence goes so far as to silence the most talkative journalists. Everyone knew it but nobody talked about it because Harvey can break a career in a snap!
On the prosecution side, Asia Argento told The New Yorker that the producer had abused her several times for five years. It all started in 1997 in a hotel room on the French Riviera where she allegedly had non-consensual oral sex. She also admits that his lack of real decision at the time has walled him in a silence of guilt. Hence these revelations come twenty years after the fact. Obviously the fear of the individual is to be taken into account. Ronan Farrow's article is very well written and deals with the problem accurately and relevantly. The son of actress Mia Farrow conducted a ten-month investigation where he collected the testimony of thirteen women. An unauthorized and highly compromising radio recording of the NYPD will serve as an introduction to this article: http://video.newyorker.com/watch/harvey-weinstein-caught-on-tape
Gwyneth Paltrow admits to having suffered many advances from the producer since she was 22 years old. Harvey Weinstein is the man who launched his career, but at what cost… Brad Pitt, the boyfriend of the actress at the time reminded the Times that he would have explained with Harvey, warning him never to try it again with his girlfriend.
Emma de Caunes was able to witness the producer's lustful impulses in spite of herself. Met in Cannes by Weinstein in 2010, the actress, already well established in the field at that time, received a call from Harvey who invited her to the Ritz to talk about a film project. Harvey found the excuse that the script was in his room for the actress to follow him. Emma de Caunes testifies that the producer appeared before her naked eyes, "ready to work". With all her courage and experience, she refused advances in front of an incredulous and confident Harvey by his successful attempts in the past. To know the whole story, we refer you once again to Farrow's article in the seventh part.
The list of his victims is far too long and a case-by-case clarification would take up entire pages. We can find actresses Judith Godrèche, Angelina Jolie, Rosanna Arquette, Lucia Evans, Mira Sorvino or wannabe and collaborators of Miramax / Weinstein Company: Ambra Battilana Gutierrez, Emily Nestor.
The news sparked a groundswell of support for the victims as well as new denunciations against the ogre Weinstein. We can expect an avalanche of testimonies in the coming days. Meryl Streep, Glenn Close, Kate Winslet and Judi Dench have all commented on the subject. The male sex has also expressed itself on Twitter, including the director Kevin Smith who owes his entire career to the accused. To finish, Georgina Chapman, wife Weinstein since 2007 and mother of two children filed for divorce. We "wait" for the reaction of the American president and his collaborators (Obama, Tarantino, Jean Dujardin…) that many appreciate. Beware of hypocrisy!
Sallie Hoffmeister, a spokeswoman for Harvey, denies all charges at this time. The rich career of this cinephile producer seems to be coming to an end. He embodies the harmful side of cinema that tarnishes the cultural, social and human richness that this industry represents. We regret that such acts still exist in 2017 and especially that the omerta is slow to be broken. A new blow for cinema, where the Hollywood dream becomes a nightmare and the smiles in front of photographers hide a memory still painful. Justfocus remains informed of the progress of this case, which should mark the 7th art.
