Within a home in southern France, where a heroic mother and a degenerate father coexisted under the same roof, unfolded a story of stark contrasts. His father stands accused of orchestrating the most heinous of acts, and his mother – the epitome of courage and a national figurehead in the battle against sexual violence.
“Once my father, he’s my father no more,” proclaims David Pelicot. “Now, he’s nothing but a monster.”
David’s story is intrinsically connected to his mother, Gisele Pelicot, whose name became synonymous with a mass rape trial that shook France to its core. Dominique Pelicot, a man who appeared charming to the outside world, admitted to drugging and raping his wife and invites strangers into their home to perpetrate similar atrocities.

Gisele’s ordeal went undetected until 2020, when Dominique’s predilections led to his capture filming up women’s skirts in a local supermarket. The subsequent investigation led to a dark revelation; hundreds of meticulously cataloged videos and images of Gisele and other victims served as chilling evidence of Dominique’s calculated depravity.

Dominique Pelicot’s trial – a historic event – culminated in a 20-year prison sentence, and it has shed a harsh light on the dark corners of sexual violence and predatory behavior. David Pelicot’s narrative is one of familial discord and heartache; it is a paternal legacy irrevocably tarnished by abuse and deceit.

To David, his father is both archangel and beast; a Jekyll and Hyde whose kindness could pivot to monstrosity. The legal proceedings exposed not only the extent of Dominique’s crimes but also the shared culpability of 50 other men involved in Gisele’s abuse.

Despite her testimony, Gisele – a figure of strength and resilience – continues her fight, both for justice and to challenge the social norms that permit such atrocities to occur. Her defiant stand in court has sparked national dialogues and movements, transforming personal anguish into collective action.

David remains hopeful for change, not just in the legal sense but also societal. His family’s story, though etched with trauma, also serves as a testament to the power of speaking out against abuse. The ordeal may be far from over, but Gisele’s symbolic stand offers a sliver of hope that such acts will no longer be shrouded in silence.