A French court has sentenced film director Christophe Ruggia to two years under house arrest with an electronic bracelet and a two-year suspended sentence after finding him guilty of sexually assaulting actress Adèle Haenel when she was between 12 and 15 years old in the early 2000s.
The ruling, delivered on Monday, February 3, 2025, marks a significant moment in France’s #MeToo movement, as Haenel was one of the first major French actresses to publicly expose sexual abuse within the film industry.
The court determined that Ruggia abused his dominant position over Haenel, subjecting her to inappropriate touching and predatory behavior during and after the filming of the 2002 movie Les Diables (The Devils). It was noted that Ruggia’s actions caused her to be “gradually isolated” from her loved ones over a period of three years.
Now 35 years old, Haenel first came forward with the allegations in 2019, revealing how Ruggia had repeatedly harassed and touched her inappropriately. Despite his persistent denials, the court found him guilty, solidifying a historic win for survivors of sexual abuse in the European film industry.
Haenel, who was visibly emotional as the verdict was announced, was greeted with applause from women’s rights activists outside the courtroom, reaffirming her courageous role in exposing abuse within French cinema.
With the sentencing of Ruggia, France’s film industry faces renewed calls for stronger protections for young actors and stricter enforcement of zero-tolerance policies on abuse.
