On the same day the Cannes Film Festival opened its red carpet, one of France’s most iconic actors, Gérard Depardieu, was convicted of sexually assaulting two women on a film set a verdict that marks a turning point not only for the man himself but for the entire French cinema establishment.
A Verdict That Shook Cannes
The 76-year-old actor, known globally for roles in Cyrano de Bergerac and Green Card, received an 18-month suspended prison sentence, a €29,000 fine, and was placed on the sex offenders register. Though he plans to appeal, this marks the first time out of around 20 accusations that a case has gone to trial and ended in a conviction. The timing coinciding with the start of the Cannes Film Festival sent shockwaves through the industry.
“He is no longer sacred,” said Juliette Binoche, Cannes Jury President and one of France’s most celebrated actresses. Once hailed as the son of Cannes, Depardieu’s fall from grace casts a long shadow over a festival that once championed his global rise. Culture Editor Eve Jackson noted, “That legacy is going to be called into question.”
A Long-Awaited Shift
France has faced criticism for being slow to embrace the momentum of the #MeToo movement. But the past year has seen a marked change. In February, filmmaker Christophe Ruggia was sentenced to four years (two suspended) for sexually assaulting actor Adèle Haenel when she was a child a case Haenel brought to light before quitting the industry in protest of its complacency toward abusers.
Other prominent names, including directors Benoît Jacquot and Jacques Doillon, face ongoing allegations, and the December conviction of Dominique Pelicot and 50 others for mass sexual assault underscored just how deep the crisis runs across French society.
In that context, Depardieu’s conviction feels like a cultural rupture. “It represents a seismic change,” said Jackson. “Young actors are speaking up. The system that protected powerful men for decades is finally under scrutiny.”
The Reaction and Repercussions
Not everyone welcomed the ruling. Veteran actors like Fanny Ardant and Vincent Perez showed up in court to support Depardieu. French cinema legend Brigitte Bardot called him a “genius” and lamented that “talented people who touch the bottom of a girl are consigned to the deepest dungeon.”
But younger generations increasingly reject that sentiment. Jackson said Depardieu’s defense team, which accused the victims of “hysteria” and “rabid feminism,” were widely condemned even fined €2,000 by the judge for their language. “They were called sexist, and that fed into the backlash,” she added. “Depardieu and his defenders are seen as relics of another era.”
A Cinematic Reckoning
The festival itself is evolving. Seven of this year’s main competition films are directed by women. One of them, The Sound of Falling by Mascha Schilinski, directly addresses generational abuse. Last year, actress Judith Godrèche made waves with her short film Moi Aussi (Me Too), featuring hundreds of abuse survivors standing silently in public squares.
Meanwhile, the broader industry is beginning to codify reform. A French parliamentary report in March found abuse “endemic” in the arts, and called for 86 reforms, including mandatory intimacy coordinators for sex scenes. But there’s still a stark gap: as of December 2023, France had just four certified coordinators. The U.S., by contrast, has over 100.
The End of an Era
Depardieu hasn’t worked in three years. While he remains one of the 20th century’s most renowned actors, his cinematic future is over. “The French film industry sentenced him long ago,” said writer Agnès C. Poirier. “His career is finished.” Now, his legacy is undergoing reappraisal not just for his artistry, but for the culture that allowed his behavior to go unchecked for so long.
“When a monument falls, it is always powerful and symbolic,” Poirier reflected. “We may now feel different when we watch his films.”
Where France Goes From Here
The conviction is more than a personal blow to one actor it’s a mirror held up to an entire industry. France, often seen as lagging behind in confronting abuse, now finds itself reckoning with long-standing cultural protections of its stars. Younger voices, both onscreen and behind the camera, are shaping a different narrative one where silence is no longer golden, and accountability is no longer optional.
As the festival lights shine on Cannes this year, they do so with a sharper clarity. The era of impunity is dimming. What replaces it is still being written but the script has undeniably changed.
