They dared to speak out to protect their children, who were victims of incest at the hands of their father, but they saw the fight turn against them.
Adelaïde has only been able to see her daughter at a supervised visitation center since she filed a complaint against the father. Sophie is allowed only one phone call with her four children, once a week. Finally, Caroline managed to protect her child after years of legal battles.
The film thus sheds light on this gray area of our justice system where the child’s testimony is still not taken into account. Today, since proving incest is often impossible, the benefit of the doubt goes to the father—the alleged perpetrator—rather than to the child who spoke out. As a result, in our country, only 1% of incest cases result in a conviction. To protect their children, these protective mothers decide to take justice into their own hands by refusing to hand the child over to the father—an act considered a criminal offense. They are prosecuted for “failure to produce a child” and accused of “manipulating” the child against the father.
This film sets out to meet these mothers, as well as lawyers, representatives of advocacy groups, and Judge Édouard Durand, the former co-chair of CIIVISE (the Independent Commission on Incest and Sexual Violence Against Children).
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Today, when proof of incest is often impossible to obtain, the benefit of the doubt goes to the father, the alleged perpetrator, rather than to the child who spoke out. As a result, in our country, only 1% of incest cases result in a conviction. To protect their children, protective mothers decide to take justice into their own hands by not handing the child over to the father. This act is considered a crime. They are prosecuted for “failure to produce a child” and accused of “manipulating” the child against the father.
This film meets these mothers, as well as lawyers, representatives of associations, and Judge Édouard Durand, former co-chair of CIIVISE (the Independent Commission on Incest and Sexual Violence Against Children). Some members of parliament have taken up the case. Could the situation finally change?
The Struggle of Protective Mothers
2026
PARTNeRS
MaisonK Prod
TEVA
CNC
Procirep Angoa
DIRECTOR
FANNY LESBROS
They dared to speak out to protect their children, who were victims of incest at the hands of their father, but they saw the fight turn against them.
Adelaïde has only been able to see her daughter at a supervised visitation center since she filed a complaint against the father. Sophie is allowed only one phone call with her four children, once a week. Finally, Caroline managed to protect her child after years of legal battles.
The film thus sheds light on this gray area of our justice system where the child’s testimony is still not taken into account. Today, since proving incest is often impossible, the benefit of the doubt goes to the father—the alleged perpetrator—rather than to the child who spoke out. As a result, in our country, only 1% of incest cases result in a conviction. To protect their children, these protective mothers decide to take justice into their own hands by refusing to hand the child over to the father—an act considered a criminal offense. They are prosecuted for “failure to produce a child” and accused of “manipulating” the child against the father.
This film sets out to meet these mothers, as well as lawyers, representatives of advocacy groups, and Judge Édouard Durand, the former co-chair of CIIVISE (the Independent Commission on Incest and Sexual Violence Against Children).
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Today, when proof of incest is often impossible to obtain, the benefit of the doubt goes to the father, the alleged perpetrator, rather than to the child who spoke out. As a result, in our country, only 1% of incest cases result in a conviction. To protect their children, protective mothers decide to take justice into their own hands by not handing the child over to the father. This act is considered a crime. They are prosecuted for “failure to produce a child” and accused of “manipulating” the child against the father.
This film meets these mothers, as well as lawyers, representatives of associations, and Judge Édouard Durand, former co-chair of CIIVISE (the Independent Commission on Incest and Sexual Violence Against Children). Some members of parliament have taken up the case. Could the situation finally change?
EQUIPE
Réalisatrice : Fanny Lesbros / Producteur : MaisonK Prod - Laurent Kouchner / une coproduction Maison K et Drôle de Trame