French director Christophe Ruggia found guilty of sexually harassing actress Adèle Haenel

French director Christophe Ruggia found guilty of sexually harassing actress Adèle Haenel

Paris, Feb 3: A French court on Monday found French film director Christophe Ruggia guilty of sexually harassing actress Adèle Haenel when she was an adolescent. This case was one of the first #MeToo cases to emerge from French cinema.

Ruggia, who had denied the accusations against him, will avoid jail. The Paris court sentenced him to four years in prison, with a two-year suspended term and two years of wearing an electronic ankle bracelet. Ruggia's lawyer, Fanny Colin, told reporters that her client maintained his innocence and would appeal the decision.

Haenel, 35, who has starred in award-winning films like Portrait of a Lady on Fire, first accused Ruggia in 2019. She stated that in 2001, while working on the movie The Devils when she was 12 and Ruggia was 36, he repeatedly touched her inappropriately.

Haenel claimed that Ruggia exercised undue control over her, isolating her from her family and crew members, and forced her and co-star Vincent Rottiers to shoot uncomfortable scenes. Several French film stars, including #MeToo movement spokesperson Judith Godrèche and Haenel's ex-partner Céline Sciamma, were present in the courtroom to hear the verdict.

Haenel recently announced her departure from the film industry, citing her belief that many sexual predators continue to work in the business.

This case has become a significant precedent for the many allegations of sexual harassment in French cinema.