Trial required against Christophe Ruggia, “an important step” for Adèle Haenel

The Paris prosecutor’s office has requested a trial against the director for aggravated sexual assault on actress Adèle Haenel when she was a young teenager.

Almost 7 years after the launch of #MeToo, one could have the impression that the movement had died down, particularly in France where few convictions followed the testimonies. However, in recent months a second wave seems to be sweeping French cinema.

Recently, tongues have been loosened around the case of Gérard Depardieu. Sophie Marceau, Laure Calamy, Vahina Giocante, Miou-Miou and Isabelle Carré spoke out to denounce the actor’s behavior on film sets and the violence against women in the industry. And more than 2,500 artists signed a “counter-tribune” to “refuse trivialization” after the text in support of Depardieu which had been signed by 56 people.

This week is Judith Godreche who came out of silence to file a complaint against Benoit Jacquot and accuse Jacques Doillon of sexual abuse. She was a minor at the time of the events. The testimony of the actress, who recounts the filming of a sex scene in a film where Benoit Jacquot had decided to replace the actor, is chilling.

Judith Godrèche filed a complaint against Benoît Jacquot and accuses Jacques Doillon of sexual abuse

Is the tide turning? We learned this Thursday that the Paris Prosecutor’s Office had finally requested a trial against the director Christophe Ruggiaa little more than three years after the testimony ofAdèle Haenel published in Mediapart. The latter accuses the filmmaker, who made her debut in cinema in Devils (2002), of sexual assault while she was still a teenager.

“After being shocked by Judith Godrèche’s story, I read today the prosecutor’s indictment requesting the dismissal of Christophe Ruggia“, said Adèle Haenel in a statement once again communicated to Mediapart.

“To read in this indictment that the facts are sufficiently characterized, corroborated by testimonies and that my statements are constant, precise and crude touches me a lot. It is a step in the legal process but, clearly, it is important“.

“We do not wish to comment“, reacted Messrs Fanny Colin and Orly Rezlan, the director’s lawyers contacted by AFP.