PARIS (AP) 鈥� With his hulking frame and volcanic charisma, reigned over French cinema for half a century, a national icon as familiar as the baguette.
But this week, the actor who once inspired writer John Updike to lament that 鈥淚 think that I shall never view a French film without Depardieu鈥� sat slumped in a Paris courtroom.
He faces two counts of sexual assault. If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison and a fine of 75,000 euros ($81,000).
But more than .
For many in , the case marks a . Can a nation famed for its culture of seduction 鈥� and long criticized for shielding male artists 鈥� hold one of them accountable?
The fall of a giant
Depardieu, 76, is accused of groping two women 鈥� a set dresser and an assistant 鈥� during the 2021 filming of 鈥淟es Volets Verts,鈥� or 鈥淭he Green Shutters鈥�. According to complaints and witness statements, he trapped one woman with his legs, grabbed her breasts and waist and shouted crude innuendo followed by a vulgar come-on.
He denies all allegations. 鈥淣ever, but never, have I abused a woman,鈥� he wrote in Le Figaro. 鈥淚 have only ever been guilty of being too loving, too generous, or having a temperament that is too strong.鈥�
This is the first time one of the more than 20 accusations against him has reached court.
Once a symbol of France鈥檚 creative power, Depardieu now represents the nation鈥檚 delayed reckoning with . The courtroom has become the stage for a country confronting the myths it has told itself about art and powerful men.
A life of extremes
Depardieu鈥檚 rise was the stuff of legend. Born in 1948 to a working-class family in Ch芒teauroux, he was a stuttering teen with no formal education. He drifted into acting and exploded onto the French stage with 鈥淟es Valseuses,鈥� or 鈥淕oing Places鈥�, a 1974 film so provocative it remains banned in some countries.
A blur of hits followed: 鈥淛ean de Florette,鈥� 鈥淐yrano de Bergerac,鈥� 鈥淕reen Card,鈥� 鈥淭he Last Metro,鈥� 鈥淒anton.鈥� He received a Golden Globe, an Oscar nomination and the adoration of millions. He was messy, magnetic and untouchable.
But the excess was real off-screen, too. He crashed his motorcycle while drunk, during a tax dispute and once urinated in a plane aisle. He boasted of his appetites.
France seemed to cheer them on.
The unfinished revolution
In Hollywood, #MeToo toppled titans. In France, the movement was met with a wary eye. When , or 鈥淓xpose Your Pig鈥� emerged in 2017, it rattled the country鈥檚 self-image 鈥� particularly in the arts, where seduction and transgression had long been celebrated.
Some warned that #MeToo was killing romance. In 2018, screen legend in Le Monde, scolding the movement for going 鈥渢oo far.鈥� They championed la libert茅 d鈥檌mportuner 鈥� 鈥渢he freedom to bother鈥� 鈥� as a pillar of French life, defending the right of men to pursue women without fear of consequence.
To many, it sounded less like a defense of flirtation than , cloaked in perfume and nostalgia.
Even President Emmanuel Macron echoed the sentiment. In December 2023 鈥� shortly after a documentary aired footage of Depardieu making sexually suggestive comments about a young girl in North Korea 鈥� , condemning the backlash as a 鈥渕anhunt.鈥�
鈥淕茅rard Depardieu makes France proud,鈥� Macron said.
The remark sparked outrage over the instinct to protect cultural giants, no matter the cost. Weeks later, Macron expressed his 鈥渞egret鈥� about the comments. It's important 鈥渇or women who are victims of abuse to speak out," he said.
A safe haven for the famous
France鈥檚 reluctance to confront sexual misconduct by its stars has long set it apart.
Roman Polanski, convicted of statutory rape in the U.S. and accused by several other women, continues to work and live freely in France. In 2020, his but also a standing ovation.
In 2022, Johnny Depp was dropped from Disney's 鈥淧irates of the Caribbean鈥� franchise after domestic abuse allegations by ex-wife Amber Heard. He .
In France, Depp was embraced. In 2023, he played Louis XV in 鈥淛eanne du Barry,鈥� the opening film at the Cannes Film Festival. Dior kept him on as the face of its Sauvage fragrance.
A cultural earthquake
High-profile convictions in recent months suggest that the shield of fame may finally be cracking.
In February, director was convicted of sexually abusing actress Adele Haenel when she was a child. Actor-director for sexual assault.
And actor-director Judith Godr猫che testified before a parliamentary commission, accusing two renowned directors of exploiting her as a teenager. 鈥淭his is not about desire,鈥� she told lawmakers. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about power. About silence. About a system that protects itself.鈥�
The commission has since summoned major actors 鈥� including Jean Dujardin of 鈥淭he Artist鈥� fame. Some reportedly asked to testify behind closed doors.
The reckoning
Anouk Grinberg, who appeared in 鈥淟es Volets Verts,鈥� has publicly supported the two women accusing Depardieu. 鈥淲hat I saw on set was not seduction,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t was shameful.鈥�
On Parisian sidewalks, opinions diverge. 鈥淲e鈥檙e losing our culture of flirtation,鈥� said Alain Morel, 62, sipping an espresso near the Arc de Triomphe. 鈥淔lirting isn鈥檛 a crime 鈥� it鈥檚 part of who we are.鈥�
But across the street, 28-year-old student Yasmine Bensalem shook her head. 鈥淲e called it charm,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut it was always about power.鈥�
Thomas Adamson, The Associated Press
