Landmark #MeToo trial over Christophe Ruggia’s sexual assault allegations by ‘Portrait of a Lady on Fire’ actress Adèle Haenel kicks off

French film director Christophe Ruggia and his lawyer Orly Rezlan leave during a break in a hearing in the trial of Ruggia for allegedly sexually abusing actress Adele Haenel on set while she was an adolescent, at the criminal court in Paris, France
| Photo Credit: ABDUL SABOOR

The trial of French filmmaker Christophe Ruggia, accused of sexually assaulting actress Adèle Haenel when she was a minor, commenced in Paris on Monday, marking a pivotal moment for the #MeToo movement in France.

Ruggia, 59, faces allegations that he assaulted Haenel between 2001 and 2004 when she was aged 12 to 14. The accusations stem from their collaboration on the 2002 film Les Diables (The Devils), where Haenel made her acting debut. Haenel, now 35, claims that Ruggia sexually assaulted her during and after the film’s production, describing incidents of inappropriate touching during visits to his home. Ruggia has denied all allegations, calling them “pure lies.”

During the trial, the prosecutor requested a two-year house arrest with an electronic bracelet, a three-year suspended sentence, and the inclusion of Ruggia on the sex offender registry. Prosecutor Camille Poch emphasized the gravity of the accusations, stating, “He chose to sexually assault her. He had his whole conscience as a man – as an adult – to behave otherwise.”

Adele Haenel leaves with her lawyer Anouck Michelin after a hearing in the trial of French film director Christophe Ruggia for allegedly sexually abusing her on set while she was an adolescent, at the criminal court in Paris, France
| Photo Credit:
ABDUL SABOOR

The court proceedings have been emotionally charged. Haenel stormed out on Tuesday after Ruggia denied the allegations and claimed he had tried to protect her from mockery over the explicit scenes in Les Diables. Outraged, she banged on the table and shouted, “Would you just shut up?” She later returned with her lawyer but refused to look at the defendant.

The trial is seen as a watershed moment for France’s film industry, which has been grappling with increasing scrutiny over its handling of sexual misconduct. Haenel’s 2019 revelations in an interview with Mediapart were among the first high-profile accusations to expose systemic abuse in French cinema. Her decision to quit acting in 2023 further underscored her disillusionment with what she called the industry’s “general complacency” toward sexual predators.

The verdict in the case is expected on February 3, a decision that could resonate far beyond the courtroom as France continues to reckon with the cultural shift brought by the #MeToo movement.