Gérard Depardieu is set to face two women accusing him of sexual assault when he enters a Paris courtroom on Monday. The renowned French actor not only grapples with the allegations but also confronts a nation long criticized for failing to address sexual violence, especially when perpetrated by its most powerful figures.
Depardieu, a 76-year-old actor, stands accused of assaulting a set decorator and an assistant director during the filming of “Les Volets Verts” (“The Green Shutters”) in 2021. While more than 20 women have publicly accused him of inappropriate sexual behavior, this marks the first instance of such a case going to trial. It represents a significant moment post-#MeToo era in France, testing whether a country known for its culture of seduction is willing to hold its cultural titans accountable.
The prosecution alleges that Depardieu trapped one of the women with his legs before groping her waist and breasts in front of witnesses. In an interview with investigative outlet Mediapart, the 54-year-old decorator stated that Depardieu shouted on set that she couldn’t even stand up due to the heat, then told her, “Come touch my big umbrella. I’m going to stick it in your guts.” She recounted that he gripped her forcefully, requiring his bodyguards to intervene. Another woman, a 34-year-old assistant director, claimed she was also groped on set and in public.
Depardieu has vehemently denied all accusations. In an open letter published in Le Figaro in October 2023, he asserted, “I have never, ever abused a woman. The thought of hurting someone or making them uncomfortable is intolerable to me.” He added, “I have only been guilty of being too affectionate, too generous, or having too strong a temperament.” His lawyer, Jérémie Assous, dismissed the case as unfounded, stating that Depardieu, who recently underwent quadruple bypass surgery and suffers from diabetes, will attend the two-day trial, presumably with scheduled breaks to accommodate his health.
### France’s Struggle with #MeToo Movement
France has often shown ambivalence, even reluctance, towards the #MeToo movement. While Hollywood swiftly and publicly saw the downfall of powerful men, the French film industry took longer to respond. Some dismissed #MeToo as an American export incompatible with French values, citing concerns over freedom of expression and what they viewed as an erosion of flirting culture.
Renowned filmmaker Roman Polanski, convicted in the U.S. for unlawful sexual relations with a minor and accused by several other women, continues to live and work in France with almost complete impunity. Despite international outrage, he remains a decorated figure in French cinema. His 2020 César Award for Best Director for “An Officer and a Spy” prompted several women, including actress Adèle Haenel, to walk out of the ceremony in protest.
However, the industry offered little institutional resistance, highlighting a deep reluctance to confront abuse when it involves revered cultural figures. In February, director Christophe Ruggia was convicted of sexually abusing Haenel when she was a child. The actress, who had already left the film industry in protest, has become one of the country’s prominent voices on abuse.
Actress and filmmaker Judith Godrèche has also emerged as a prominent figure. In February 2024, she testified before a French parliamentary committee, accusing directors Benoît Jacquot and Jacques Doillon of sexually exploiting her in her adolescence, allegations both deny. “It’s not about desire or love,” she told lawmakers. “It’s about power. It’s about a system that allows silence.”
The same committee has summoned key actors and producers, including Jean Dujardin. Several reportedly requested closed-door appearances.
### Witness Testimonies and Ongoing Rumors
Respected actress Anouk Grinberg, who appeared in “Les Volets Verts,” publicly supported the accusers, describing Depardieu’s behavior as vulgar and disturbing. She expressed feeling “shame” on set. At the time of the alleged 2021 assaults, Depardieu was already formally under investigation for rape. In 2018, actress Charlotte Arnould accused him of raping her at his home. That case remains active, with the prosecution requesting a trial in August 2024.
Throughout his five-decade career, Depardieu starred in over 200 films, including “Cyrano de Bergerac,” “Jean de Florette,” “Green Card,” and “The Man in the Iron Mask.” However, controversies off-screen have long been associated with him, from driving under the influence to urinating in an airplane aisle.
A 2023 France Télévisions documentary, “The Ogre’s Fall,” reignited the debate about his impunity. It featured footage of Depardieu during a 2018 trip to North Korea, where he made sexually inappropriate comments to an interpreter and appeared to sexualize a girl riding a horse. Such behaviors were once considered part of his imposing personality. Today, that legacy faces direct scrutiny.
### Pushback in a Nation Known for Seduction
Godrèche, who told lawmakers she was 14 when Jacquot first exploited her, has called for reforms in France’s statute of limitations for sexual offenses against minors and new protections for minors in the artistic sphere. Her testimony, along with that of other survivors, has drawn uncommon political attention to a culture of silence that many believe pervades French cinema.
Yet, resistance persists. In 2018, actress Catherine Deneuve and over 100 prominent French women signed an open letter in Le Monde defending what they termed the “freedom to bother.” The letter argued that flirtation should not be equated with harassment and cautioned against American-style puritanism.
