Channel 5 is preparing a documentary about the French mass rape trial, which has stunned the world and is currently in its final stages after eleven weeks of hearings. At the center of the trial is Gisèle Pelicot, a 72-year-old woman whose former husband, Dominique Pelicot, drugged her for more than a decade and invited men to rape her.
The 90-minute documentary, titled “The Pelicot Rape Case: A Town on Trial,” will air in primetime on December 11. The documentary, produced by ITV Productions, will provide a psychological, legal and cultural perspective, with input from the Mazan community where the Pelicots lived a seemingly idyllic retirement.
The documentary will also feature an exclusive on-camera interview with one of the alleged rapists in the case, who will be visually and vocally anonymized.
Although it is the first documentary to be announced about the mass rape trial, a number of others are believed to be in production, including in France, where the public broadcaster is preparing one.
The case is still ongoing as French prosecutors have sought prison sentences of 4 to 20 years for the 51 men accused of taking part in the repeated rape of Gisèle Pelicot over a decade. The prosecutor sought a 20-year prison sentence for Dominique Pelicot, who admitted that he recruited strangers online to come to their home and rape his wife while she was sedated.
“Speaking to those who have stood in court every day and those who have watched from a distance, we will ask ourselves how these crimes could have gone unnoticed for so many years, what it means for the way things are done in France and the US against sexual violence. the rest of the world and what tough questions men need to ask themselves about modern masculinity,” reads the synopsis of the documentary. “We will also speak to one of the alleged rapists themselves to hear his defense in one of the world’s most shocking rape cases.”
Ian Rumsey, managing director of content at ITN, said: “Our news heritage and the agility of our production teams mean that ITN Productions is uniquely placed to produce a rigorous, detailed documentary that charts the impact of these disturbing crimes as it unfolds. process unfolds. Securing exclusive camera access with one of the alleged rapists is part of our commitment to telling the broader story of Gisèle Pelicot’s astonishing courage.”
Denise Seneviratne, editor-in-chief at Channel 5, said: “ITN is the natural partner to produce a documentary about this harrowing crime and the unfolding trial, a trial that has captured the world’s attention.” She added: “Gisèle Pelicot has become a symbolic figure of courage and change. We believe this story needs to be told and Channel 5 is resolute in telling it.”
Jeremy Daldry is executive producer and Anna Davis and Oliver Price are producer-directors for ITN Productions. The document was commissioned by Seneviratne at Channel 5, with post-production by ITN Post.