Sexual harassment test of Gerard Depardiu marked a cultural repetition for the post-#Metu France

Gérard Depardieu would not be facing just two women who accuse them of sexual harassment on going to the Paris court room on Monday. French’s most famous male actors will also face a long criticism to fail to address sexual violence – especially when committed by its most powerful figures.

76 -year -old Depardieu is accused of assaulting a set dresser and an assistant director during 2021 filming. Less weight weight ,Green shutterWhile more than 20 women have publicly accused them of sexual misconduct, this is the first time that one of those cases has gone for a test.

It is also the case of the most prominent post in France-#Metu era, testing whether the famous country is ready for the culture of its culture to make its cultural Titans accountable.

Prosecutors say that Depardyu trapped one of the women with his feet before focusing his waist and breasts in front of the witnesses. In an interview with the search outlet MediaPart, the 54 -year -old set dresser stated that Depardyu shouted on the set that he could not even pick it up due to the heat “, then said:” Come and touch my big parasol. I would stick it to my (areas of the Netherlands). ” He said that he again grabbed him by force and was to be taken away by the bodyguard.

Another woman, a 34 -year -old assistant director, alleged that she had gone on both in the set and the street. The identity of the plaintiff has not been revealed to protect the alleged victims of sexual violence.

Depardieu has denied all the allegations.

In an open letter published in Le Figaro In October 2023, he wrote: “Never, but never, have I abused a woman. To think that I have hurt someone or have made them feel uncomfortable, unbearable to me.”

He said, “I have been guilty of only loving, being very generous, or being of a nature which is very strong.”

His lawyer, Jeremy Asas, called the matter baseless and said that Depardyu-he recently passed through a quadruple bypass and diabetes-would participate in the two-day test, allegedly with a brake fixed to adjust his health status.

France has often been resistant to the #MeToo movement – even resistant – even resistant. While Hollywood saw powerful men falling fast and publicly, the French film industry was slow to respond. Some dismissed #MeToo as incompatible with French values ​​as an American exports, citing concerns over free expression and saw them as erosion of flirtation culture.

Roman Polesky, a minor in the United States, was convicted in illegal sexual relations and many other women, accused, continue to live and work almost in France, almost in total. Despite international outrage, he remains a decorated person in French cinema. His 2020 Seser Award for Best Director – for – An officer and a detective – Several women, including actress Edel Henl, inspired them to get out of the ceremony in protest.

Roman Poolnsky. file. , Photo Credit: AP

Nevertheless the industry offered little institutional pushbacks, when this prestigious cultural figures are included, a deep roots to face misuse highlight the reluctance.

In February, director Christofe Ragia was convicted of sexually abusing Henl when he had a child. The actress, who had already left the film industry in protest, has become one of the most prominent voice in the country on misuse.

An actor and filmmaker, Judith Godreche, has also emerged as a prominent person. In February 2024, in a television testimony, he addressed a French Parliamentary Commission, accusing directors Benoit Jackwott and Jacks Dollen, accused of sexually abusing him as a teenager – allegations both men refuse. “It’s not about desire or love,” he told the MPs. “It’s about power. It is about a system that enables silence.”

Director Judith Godreche, Center, 77th International Film Festival, Cannes, Southern France, Wednesday, 15 May, 2024, the film ‘Furyosa: A Mad Max Saga’ covers his mouth with his hands, covering his mouth when he comes to the premiere. Photo Credit: AP

The same commission has called prominent actors and producers – including Jean Dujardin – to testify. Many allegedly requested that their appearances be behind the closed doors.

Anouk Grinberg, a respected actor who appeared Less weight weightPublicly supported the plaintiff. She described Depardie’s behavior as porn and disturbing, saying that she feels a “feeling of shame” on the set.

At the time of alleged 2021 attacks, Depardyu was already under formal investigation for rape. In 2018, actor Charlotte Arnold accused him of raping his home. The case is still active, and in August 2024, the prosecutors requested that it go for a test.

In a career in five decades, Depardyu starred in more than 200 films, including Cyrano de Burzarack, Jean de Florate, Green CardAnd the man in the Iron MaskBut his off-screen controversies made headlines for a long time, from drunk driving to urination in the corridor of an aircraft.

A 2023 France Télévisions Documentary, La Chute de Lorgre ,Ogrey collapse), Ruled the debate about his impurities. This showed the actor’s footage during a 2018 trip to North Korea, made sexually improper remarks to a female interpreter and had sexual relations to a young girl to ride a horse.

For decades, such behavior was rejected as part of their larger life personality. Today, that heritage is under a direct challenge.

Godreche, who told the MPs that she was 14 years old when Jacquett exploited her for the first time, has called for improvement to borders on child sexual offenses of France and to improve new security for minors in art. His testimony – along with other people – has attracted rare political attention to the culture of silence, which many people say that French cinema.

Nevertheless, resistance remains.

In 2018, actor Catherine Daneuway and more than 100 prominent French women signed an open letter in the Le Monde newspaper, which he called “freedom to harass”. The letter argued that flirtation should not be done with harassment and warned against American style purism.