Women on Trial

Plot

1972. A landmark trial shakes France as young Marie-Claire is prosecuted for having an illegal abortion with the help of her mother and two other defendants. In a courtroom governed by men, the verdict seems inevitable: prison for the women, while the rapist goes unpunished. Their last hope lies with Gisèle Halimi, a fearless lawyer known for openly challenging patriarchy and confronting the system that condemns victims and lets perpetrators walk free. Alongside the accused, Gisèle will not only change their fate, but, against all odds, transform the condition of women forever

About Women on Trial

Women on Trial (French: L'Affaire Marie-Claire) is a 2026 French drama film written and directed by Lauriane Escaffre and Yvo Muller. It follows the Bobigny trial of 1972, in which teenager Marie-Claire Chevalier (Saül Benchetrit) was placed on trial for having an abortion after being raped by a classmate, with her successful defense by Gisèle Halimi (Charlotte Gainsbourg) having been one of the key precedents for the passage of the Veil Act, which decriminalized abortion in France. The film had its world premiere in the Special Screenings section of the 2026 Cannes Film Festival on 18 May. It will be theatrically released in France on 4 November.

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

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