Actor Gerard Depardieu was tried on Monday for alleged sexual aggressions in a shooting set, in one case that placed one of the stars of the most famous film in France at the center of a wider reflection in the country on sexual violence.
By imposing figure of French cinema, Depardieu has faced an increasing number of accusations of sexual aggression in recent years. Depardieu, 76, has always denied any irregularities, and this is the first case for which it is tried.
The process, which should last up to three days, should have been held in October, but was postponed due to the bad health of Depardieu.
Depardieu, with his hand on his lawyer’s shoulder, passed calmly through journalists, looking straight the cameras without saying a word before entering the court and talking to some current actors.
His lawyer, Jeremie Assus, told journalists that the accusations are false and based.
“The truth is on our side,” he said.
Public ministries say that the attacks on two women – whose complete identities were not revealed – occurred during the filming in 2021 of “Les Voats Verts”.
They accuse Departringuie from the Grooveing of one of the women on the shooting set, pulling her towards her and keeping her legs before touching her life, hips and breasts while saying obscene words. Three people attended the scene, according to public ministries.
They say the second woman has been nicknamed Depardieu on the set and on the street.
The lawyer of one of the women told Reuters before the trial that his client was afraid to perform against Depardieu.
“There is a fear, because it is a giant film,” said Carine Durrieu-Ciebolt. “It is a struggle between David and Goliath and are afraid of retaliation, because they all work in the cinema, but at a much lower level than Depardieu.”
The lawyer of the second complainant did not respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.
Dozens of demonstrators remained off the pitch, shouting “we believe in you” to show your support for the two complaints.
If considered guilty, Depardieu could face a sentence of up to five years in prison and a fine of 75,000 euros.
The Depardieu process is the most important #Metoo case in the media sector to reach the French courts, a country where the protest movement against sexual violence fought to obtain the same strength as the United States.
Source: Terra
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