S Poddar
French cinema icon Gérard Depardieu is finally set to face trial before the Paris Court of Correction for allegedly raping two women. The 75-year-old actor, who starred in more than 200 films throughout his career, stands accused of raping the two women in 2021 during the shooting of film “Les Volets Verts”.
If convicted, Depardieu could get five years in prison. More likely, however, he would receive a suspended sentence and a heavy fine. Depardieu has strongly denied the charges, stating that he never “abused a woman.” Defending him are many actors and directors, who believe that to condemn Depardieu is to mount an attack on “art itself.”
It is one of the most significant events for the MeToo movement in France. Since the Harvey Weinstein scandal in the United States, MeToo has a dream to bring sexual crimes against women into the spotlight and plead for stronger legal remedies. The movement has been largely concentrated on sectors that traditionally are male and involve infamous disregard for sexual malpractice, such as film making.
President Emmanuel Macron called Depardieu “the pride of France,” and the activists responded very violently to that statement. This kind of comment weakens the campaign against violence on women. French actress Léa Seydoux, who acted in James Bond’s film “No Time to Die,” said, “Crazy, yeah. That’s the projection of a country.”.
The trial is expected to be closely watched, reflecting the broader societal push for accountability and change regarding sexual misconduct in France. As the trial proceeds, it will determine Depardieu’s fate but also signal how seriously the French judicial system takes allegations of sexual assault against powerful figures in the entertainment industry.
