French film distributor defends Woody Allen

Woody Allen's French film distributor on Saturday defended the American director against sexual abuse claims, saying he has been unfairly caught up in the fallout surrounding the #MeToo movement.

Writing in the French weekly Le Point, Mars Films head Stephane Celerier dismissed renewed allegations by Allen's adopted daughter, Dylan Farrow, that Allen molested her in an attic in 1992 when she was 7. Celerier describes the accusation as a family drama caught in the crosshairs of the#MeToo movement amid fallout from the allegations of rape and sexual harassment against Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinstein.

It is "shameless opportunism," Celerier said. "(The claim) taints the dignity of real victims."

Celerier's defence of Allen is the latest chapter in an emerging narrative in France, particularly in its film industry, that the Hollywood anti-abuse campaign has gone too far.

Farrow in January gave her first on-camera interview to CBS This Morningabout her longstanding abuse allegations against the 82-year-old filmmaker. Allen has long denied the allegations and was investigated but not charged.

• Dylan Farrow describes alleged assault by Woody Allen

Since the Weinstein allegations, France the country synonymous with love has been stumbling as it addresses the issue of sexual harassment and violence against women.

Last month, French actress Catherine Deneuve set the feminist world ablaze by co-signing a letter accusing the post-Weinstein groundswell of allegations of being puritanical.

• French star Catherine Deneuve apologizes to sexual abuse victims after anti-MeToo letter

In November, France's famed film institute La Cinematheque Francaise went ahead with a retrospective of works by director Roman Polanski despite opposition by feminist groups. The institute said its role was not to moralize. The Polish-born director in the 1970s pleaded guilty to having sex in the U.S. with a 13-year-old girl whom he plied with champagne and Quaaludes.

Polanski, who lives in France, and Allen continue to be highly revered by the French public. Polanski was honoured last year as president of the Cesar awards, France's answer to the Oscars.