Once regarded as a national icon, celebrated as “France’s pride” even by the president himself, Gérard Depardieu faced a harsh reality in the spring of 2025: a French court found him guilty of sexual assault against two women during the filming of Les Volets Verts.

The Power Behind the Scenes

These two women, who worked behind the camera and had no public voice, bravely came forward to share their experiences of how Depardieu exploited his position to harass them.

One of them, a set designer named Amélie, recounted in court: “He cornered me between his legs in a hallway and ran his hands up and down my body. He frightened me – he looked like a madman.”

The trial exposed a star who, according to the prosecutor, targeted the most vulnerable and invisible women on set. “He is strong against the weak and weak against the strong,” declared Amélie’s lawyer in court.

A System of Silence

The case against Depardieu has become a symbol of the culture of silence and protection that has permeated the film industry for decades.

Previously, the actor was defended by colleagues, directors, and even Emmanuel Macron.

Yet, as the verdict was announced, a new atmosphere emerged: over 600 cultural figures signed an open declaration against the impunity that has surrounded him.

Emmanuelle Dancourt from MeToo Media put it aptly: “Gérard Depardieu’s best friend is silence. In France, we have a wall of silence, and that means impunity.”

MeToo’s New Chapter

Depardieu’s 18-month suspended sentence is not the end.

Later this year, he is expected to stand trial again, this time accused of raping actress Charlotte Arnould.

The world holds its breath, as the case has already shaken a nation and breathed new life into the French MeToo movement.

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