Depardieu's Sexual Assault Trial Highlights #MeToo Tensions

French actor Gérard Depardieu is on trial for allegedly sexually assaulting two women on the set of the 2021 film 'Les Volets Verts' ('The Green Shutters'). Depardieu, 76, has denied the charges, claiming that any contact was non-sexual and accidental, such as grabbing one woman by the hips to avoid slipping. The trial, which has seen explosive exchanges between legal teams, highlights the tensions surrounding the #MeToo movement in French cinema. Depardieu has faced accusations from around 20 women, but this is the first case to go to trial. Plaintiffs allege he used vulgar language and inappropriate touching, with one woman testifying that he groped her and made explicit comments. If convicted, Depardieu faces up to five years in prison and a €75,000 fine.