Director Christophe Ruggia found guilty of sexual assault

French director Christophe Ruggia found guilty of sexual assault against Adèle Ennel

A French court has convicted 60-year-old film director Christophe Ruggia, finding him guilty of sexual assault against actress Adèle Ennel. The court sentenced him to two years of house arrest and two years of suspended imprisonment.

In addition, Ruggia is ordered to pay compensation to the victim: €15,000 for moral damages and €20,000 for the cost of psychological therapy, which she was forced to undergo following the trauma. This case has become one of the first significant precedents within the #MeToo movement in French cinema, according to The Guardian.

Allegations: a history of abuse on set

Adèle Ennel, 35, stated that she became a victim of sexual harassment by the director when she was just 12 years old. According to the actress, the abuse occurred during the filming of the movie “Les Diables” (“The Devils”), which was released in 2002. She admitted that the trauma she suffered had a severe impact on her life, leading her to suicidal thoughts.

Members of the film crew who worked on the picture confirmed that Ruggia’s behaviour towards the young actress appeared inappropriate. The defendant himself acknowledged that his actions could have harmed Ennel but denied his guilt. He intends to appeal the verdict.

Protest against industry silence

Adèle Ennel is not new to speaking out against sexual violence in the film industry. In 2020, she publicly left the César Awards ceremony in Paris, shouting “Honte!” (“Shame!”) in protest against the awarding of the best director prize to Roman Polanski, who is still wanted in the US on charges of raping a 13-year-old girl.

In 2023, Ennel announced she was ending her acting career, accusing the industry of enabling criminals. In her words, French cinema continues to protect abusers and ignore victims.

Parallels with the Weinstein case

The scandal surrounding Ruggia has become one of the most prominent stories in French cinema, with comparisons drawn to the case of Harvey Weinstein. The Hollywood producer was convicted of sexual crimes and sentenced to 39 years in prison. It was recently reported that he has been diagnosed with cancer.

The Ruggia case once again raises questions about the scale of violence in the film industry and the effectiveness of efforts to hold influential figures accountable for abusing their positions.