The French actor Gerard Depardieu was expected in court on Monday, with a trial on his alleged sexual assaults in a film set that will begin in a case that places one of the best known film stars in the world in the heart of the broader sexual violence of France about sexual violence.
An imposing figure of French cinema, Depardieu has faced an increasing number of accusations of sexual assault in recent years. Depardieu, 76, has constantly denied any irregularity, and this would be the first case for which he would be in trial.
“Obviously he has denied it from the beginning,” said Depardieu’s lawyer Jeremie Asous, on the RMC French radio on Monday morning.
Asous said the actor would be present at the trial, which is expected to last up to three days, after the postponement of an initial audience last October due to the poor health of Depardieu.
“Like anyone who faces a trial, he has the right to speak. He will finally speak,” said Asous.
Prosecutors claim that the assaults against the two women, whose identities have not been revealed, took place during the filming in 2021 of “Les Volets Verts” (the green blinds).
They accuse Depardieu of grades to one of the women on the set of the film, throwing it towards him and caught with his legs before touching his waist, hips and breasts while saying obscene words. Three people witnessed the scene, prosecutors say.
They say that the second woman groped by Depardieu on the set and on the street.
A woman’s lawyer told Reuters that her client had been afraid to appear against Depardieu, while the second woman’s lawyer did not respond to comments requests.
Depardieu’s trial could be the highest #MeToo of the highest profile that is presented to the courts in France, a country where the protest movement for sexual violence has fought to win the same traction as in the United States.
Recently, however, there have been signs that this could change.
Gisele Pelicot became a global feminist icon last year after he resigned from his rights over anonymity during his ex -husband’s trial, who was convicted of drugping her and inviting dozens of men to her home to sexually abuse her.
Then, last month, a French court found the film director Christophe ruggia guilty of sexually abusing actress Adele Haenel when he was a minor.
