ReutersAdèle Haenel, a French actress who accused a filmmaker of sexually assaulting her when she was a child, shouted at him to “shut up” before storming out in the middle of the trial.
Christophe Ruggia, 59, defended himself at the time, claiming that he was only trying to “protect” Haenel in the early days of her fame.
A French prosecutor has asked for two years of house arrest for Ruggia, 59, who Haenel said assaulted her in the early 2000s when she was 12 to 15 years old and he was in his late teens. 30.
Ruggia said the sexual abuse allegations were “pure lies”.
He also accused Haenel of wanting revenge on him for not hiring her for more roles after she starred in his 2002 film. Les Diables (Devil).
Haenel said she was controlled and manipulated by Ruggia as a child and that no one protected her when she was “asked to do things in the name of art”.
She alleged that Ruggia began harassing her during filming, when she was 12 years old.
Haenel, who starred in the acclaimed 2019 film Portrait of a Lady on Fire, publicly quit the French film industry last year because of what she said was a “general complacency” towards predators sex.
In 2019, she gave a lengthy and emotional interview to the French news agency Mediapart, in which she detailed what she called the “sexual harassment” she endured under Ruggia’s hand.
She said she decided to speak out about her sexual abuse allegations after watching the documentary Leaving Neverland, which explored singer Michael Jackson’s relationship with children.
“It made me feel like I had been clinging to the Ruggia version for too long, that it was all just a story about love,” she said, adding that it made her understand the mechanics of “control and enchantment.”
Haenel said that on set Ruggia often touched her, kissed her cheek, put his hands on her hips and called her “my darling” and “darling”, and that he gradually isolated her from the family, Tell her parents not to do that. to the studio to avoid distracting her.
ReutersOther actors and technicians on set told Mediapart about the unhealthy atmosphere.
A summary of the charges cited by French media said Ruggia and Haenel continued to meet every Saturday after filming of Les Diables ended, “under the guise of filming lessons”, during which Ruggia allegedly touched her sexually and inserted his hand. her underwear.
Investigators said they found notes on Ruggia’s computer in which he wrote about 12-year-old Haenel’s “overwhelming sexiness.”
According to the indictment, when she cut off contact with him, he continued to write her many letters. After that, she fell into a deep depression that lasted until the age of 28.
“When I was under his thumb, I felt dirty and wanted to die,” Haenel told investigators.
Ruggia admitted to making “mistakes” in his dealings with Haenel.
“I don’t see that my admiration for her and the hopes I have in her – because she is young – can sometimes become annoying. If this happens… I beg you He forgives,” he said in a statement in 2019
At the trial, prosecutor Camille Poch said she had “no doubt” the allegations were truthful and said Ruggia’s defense was “unlikely”. “He made the choice to sexually assault her. He had his entire conscience as a grown man to decide to act otherwise.”
Haenel is the first famous French actor to accuse the French film industry of turning a blind eye to sexual assault.
Since then, actor Gérard Depardieu was accused of rape and will be tried next year. Film directors Benoît Jacquot and Jacques Doillon have also been was charged with rape and sexual assault by actress Judith Godrèche.
Haenel’s lawyers have sought 30,000 euros (£24,800) in emotional damages and 31,000 euros to cover the costs of her psychiatrist.
A verdict is expected on February 3.
