A Paris court recently convicted filmmaker Christophe Ruggia of sexually assaulting French actress Adèle Haenel between the ages of 12 and 15 in the early 2000s, making it one of France’s first major #MeToo trials.
Ruggia was sentenced to two years under house arrest with an electronic bracelet, in addition to a two-year suspended sentence. Throughout the trial, he denied any wrongdoing.
Haenel, now 35, was the first prominent French actress to speak out against sexual abuse in the film industry after the #MeToo movement gained momentum. In 2019, she accused Ruggia of repeatedly touching her inappropriately during and after the making of Les Diables (The Devils) in the early 2000s.
When the verdict was announced, Haenel seemed visibly relieved, taking deep breaths. She was applauded by women’s rights activists as she left the courtroom.
The court determined that Ruggia exploited his position of power over Haenel at the time. It stated that during nearly weekly meetings at his home over the course of three years, Ruggia exhibited sexualized behavior and gestures, while Haenel was “gradually isolated” from her family and friends.
Ruggia’s lawyer has announced plans to appeal the court’s decision. Lawyer Fanny Colin stated that her client “maintains he never touched Adèle Haenel” and argued that the conviction, based solely on her testimony, is “not only unjustified but dangerous.”
Haenel, known for her role in the 2019 Cannes film Portrait of a Lady on Fire, has been outspoken about the lack of proper action against sexual abuse in the French film industry. At the 2020 César Awards, she walked out of the ceremony after Roman Polanski won Best Director. Polanski, still wanted in the U.S. for charges of raping a 13-year-old girl in 1977, has been a controversial figure.
In 2023, Haenel announced her departure from the French film industry, which she accused of being “complicit toward sexual aggressors.” In an open letter, she criticized Cannes and other key figures in French cinema, claiming they are “willing to do anything to protect their rapist leaders.”
While the #MeToo movement initially faced challenges gaining momentum in France, more actors and industry professionals have since come forward with their own stories.
On the day of the verdict, renowned French actress Judith Godrèche was present at the Paris courthouse. She described the moment as both “moving” and “important,” reflecting on her own experiences and the possibility that they might remain unpunished. Godrèche has previously accused film director Benoît Jacquot of raping and physically abusing her during a six-year relationship that started when she was just 14. Jacquot, with a career spanning over 50 film and TV credits, faced preliminary charges in July 2024 for rape, sexual assault, and violence.
Additionally, Godrèche has accused another director, Jacques Doillon, of sexually abusing her while working on a film when she was 15. Both Jacquot and Doillon have denied the allegations.
In another high-profile case, actor Gérard Depardieu is set to stand trial in March, facing charges of sexually assaulting two women on the set of the film Les Volets verts (The Green Shutters). Depardieu, who also denies the accusations, is alleged to have used “violence, coercion, surprise, or threat” during the assaults, which prosecutors claim took place in 2021.
