Women on Trial () is a 2026 French drama film written and directed by Lauriane Escaffre and Yvo Muller."Le film « L’Affaire Marie-Claire » en avant-première dans les cinémas de Charente-Maritime". Sud Ouest, 28 September 2026. It follows the 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.Amber Wilkinson, "‘Women On Trial’ review: Charlotte Gainsbourg leads a persuasive dramatisation of landmark 1972 French abortion trial". Screen Daily, 19 May 2026.
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.
Cast
Charlotte Gainsbourg as Gisèle Halimi Saül Benchetrit as Marie-Claire Chevalier Cécile de France as Michèle Chevalier, Marie-Claire's mother Lauriane Escaffre as Colette Yvo Muller as Jaques Monod Florence Loiret Caille as Micheline Bambuck Sarah Suco as Lucette DuboucheixMatthew Turner, "Women on Trial". Next Best Picture, 29 May 2026. Grégory Gadebois as Claude Faux Xavier Robic Farida Ouchani Quentin Gouverneur Sandrine Guisier
Production Gainsbourg's casting as Halimi was controversial, as Halimi had been an outspoken advocate for the human rights of Palestinians, while Gainsbourg signed an open letter during the film's production denouncing France's decision to extend legal recognition to Palestine.Valérie Lehoux, "Charlotte Gainsbourg dans le rôle de Gisèle Halimi : la controverse s’amplifie avec le fils de l’avocate". Télérama, 27 September 2025. The discussion further noted that although Halimi was a Tunisian Jew, both Women on Trial and an announced but unreleased project that would star Virginie Efira had cast white actresses to play her.Rokhaya Diallo, "Charlotte Gainsbourg qui incarne Gisèle Halimi : un choix politique". Politis, 8 October 2025.
Release The film premiered in the Special Screenings program at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival.Veronica Orciari, "Review: Women on Trial". Cineuropa, 23 May 2026. It was subsequently screened at the Angoulême Francophone Film Festival in August,Nicolas Bastuck, "Au festival d’Angoulême, « L’Affaire Marie-Claire » ranime le combat pour le droit à l’avortement". Le Point, 27 August 2026. followed by its North American premiere in September at the 2026 Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival.Laura E. Young, "Sudbury's Cinefest returns for its 38th year with a diverse lineup of films". Sudbury Star, 18 September 2026.
It will be theatrically released in France on 4 November.Yannick Vely, "Bande-annonce : Charlotte Gainsbourg est Gisèle Halimi dans « L'Affaire Marie-Claire »". Paris Match, 12 September 2026.
Reception
Critical response Veronica Orciari of Cineuropa wrote that "Women on Trial is a movie that works perfectly well both as an historical document and as a powerful testament to the resilience of women through the generations. It’s not the most original film, nor is it the most visually striking, but it does not set out to be either of those things."
For Screen Daily, Amber Wilkinson wrote that "this pacy retelling, which keeps its focus on Halimi, interweaves the trial itself with the run-up to it and events outside the courtroom to solid effect, although the fact that the outcome of the case is known from the outset inevitably blunts some of the dramatic tension."
Accolades Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival 2026 Audience Choice, Feature Film Women on Trial "Sylvester Stallone biopic, Terry Fox doc earn honours at Cinéfest". Sudbury.com, 30 September 2026. Inspiring Voices and Perspectives
References
External links