French actor Gérard Depardieu stands a trial in Paris for alleged sexual assaults: NPR

PARIS – French actor Gerard Depardio on Monday in Paris on charges of sexual assault on two women in a group of films, in case he is seen as the potential water gatherings of #Metoo movement in France.

Depardieu, 76, is accused of clearing the track of a 54 -year -old and 34 -year -old assistant director while filming in 2021 from “Les Vects Verts” (“Green Projects”).

The actor faces prison for up to five years and a fine of 75,000 euros ($ 81,000) if convicted.

DePardieu denies any violations.

For journalists who were collected outside the courtroom, he said briefly, “I am fine.” Inside, he told the judges that he was ready to answer the court’s questions.

“We will be able to appear in a neutral, objective and irreplaceable way,” said Jeremy Ajri.

“The truth will be clear and the truth to our side,” he said.

The trial is a test of France’s positions of sexual violence

The long DePardieu profession and floors have turned the trial into a post -#metoo test for France and the cinema industry to counter sexual violence and hold influential men accountable.

Depardieu was loved by the French cinema for decades, and was nominated for the Academy Award in 1991 because of his performance as a sword and poet Cyrano de Bergerac.

But his alleged alleged behavior outside the screen has long released newspaper headlines. He was publicly accused or in official complaints of misconduct by more than 20 women, but so far not only the case of sexual assault to the court has not only been done. Others were dropped due to lack of evidence or limitations.

Feminist and historian Florence Montrewyd described her appearance of the Depardio Court as a “historic moment” for women’s rights, where she joined other activists who demonstrated outside the court. Dozens of “sexual violence, a complicit judicial system” chanted while dancing for technical music.

“The times change,” Montrinaoud told French broadcaster BFMTV.

The trial also followed in the wake of the historical case last year that included Gisèle Pelicot, whose courage put the spotlight on sexual violence in France. I called for the trial of anesthesia and rape of 51 men who tried to obtain a terrible catalog of abuse in the open court, on the pretext that doing this would help make shame on both sides of the change.

France was often contradictory – even resistance – towards the #Metoo movement. While Hollywood witnessed strong men falling quickly and publicly, the French cinema industry was slower in response. Some have rejected #Metoo as an American export incompatible with French values, citing concerns about freedom of expression and what they considered as erosion in the culture of flirting.

At the time of the alleged attacks, DePardieu was already under the official rape investigation. In 2018, actor Charlotte Arnold accused him of raping her at his home. This case is still active, and in August 2024, public prosecutors asked to go to the trial.

The prosecution claims that the actor is touching

Prosecutors say that DePardieu transformed the cabinet of his legs before touching its waist and breasts in front of the witnesses. She says the actor also used an obscene language and had to be withdrawn by personal guards.

The assistant director claimed that DePardieu touched it in the group and on the street.

Women sat alongside court. The Associated Press does not name the people who say they have been sexually assaulted unless they agree to identify their identity. He did not do this in this case.

The trial is expected to last at least two days, but it can be extended after Tuesday, if the senior judge wants more time. A date for the trial was initially set in October, but then it was postponed due to the health of DePardieu. It is expected to judge at a later time.

Depaardieu acquired the shoulder of his lawyer as he quietly wandering in the courtroom. The actor underwent a quadrilateral heart and affects diabetes, according to his lawyer. The medical expert appointed by the court decided that he was appropriate to trial, but he recommended that listening sessions do not exceed six hours, with a stop for 15 minutes and a snack every three hours.

Prosecutors are keen to hear them

Besides giving his name, DePardieu did not witness on Monday. Instead, his lawyer took over most of the time, raising what he described as legal cases and seeks to doubt the testimony of witnesses and investigate the police. The lawyer claimed, without providing evidence, that the police acted under instructions from the judges who led the investigation “to make DePardieu a fall.”

Listen Depaardieu with interest, and sometimes gesture.

One of the plaintiffs exploded to cry when her lawyer read a letter that she wrote about alleged sexual assault. He sits next to her, the other accused put her hand on her shoulder in a gesture of sympathy.

Prosecutors’ lawyers said they would later put their evidence.

A lawyer, Karen Dorio Dipolt, said that Depardio apologized to her customer at the time. “Why do you apologize if you did not do anything?”

It was not clear what the message of apology was.

Dorio Debolt has already said that four additional women say they were sexually assaulted by Depardio to witness.

In an open letter published in October 2023, DePardieu wrote: “I have never misunderstood, but I did not misuse a woman.”

The actor has gone out of sight in recent months, and his cinematic career appears to be hanging. But he still has friends in this industry. The actors, Vincent Perez and Vanie Ardant were among those who occupied seats on his side from the courtroom.