Hugh Schofield

The plaintiffs, a set decorator and an assistant director on a film made in Paris in 2021, say that he groped them using lewd language, touching their buttocks and breasts. Depardieu denies the charges and this afternoon his lawyer told the court that he would present witnesses from the film set who would testify that nothing untoward happened.

The plaintiffs, a set decorator and an assistant director on a film made in Paris in 2021, say that he groped them using lewd language, touching their buttocks and breasts. Depardieu denies the charges and this afternoon his lawyer told the court that he would present witnesses from the film set who would testify that nothing untoward happened.

Gérard Depardieu is probably the best-known French actor alive today and in his time was revered for his instinctual masculine presence on camera.

Gérard Depardieu is probably the best-known French actor alive today and in his time was revered for his instinctual masculine presence on camera.

Gerard Depardieu is in the court. He arrived shortly before the session opened looking OK, but looking his age, let's not forget that he's also quite ill in the sense that he has a heart condition and diabetes. And that's one reason why this court case was postponed from its original scheduled date, which was in October.

Gerard Depardieu is in the court. He arrived shortly before the session opened looking OK, but looking his age, let's not forget that he's also quite ill in the sense that he has a heart condition and diabetes. And that's one reason why this court case was postponed from its original scheduled date, which was in October.

And even now there are sort of special provisions to account for his poor state of health. It's the first time Gerard Depardieu has come to trial after a number of allegations about his behaviour on film sets dating back many, many years. In this particular case, we're talking about a film which was made a few years ago, sang without trace, the film called Les Voluves.

And even now there are sort of special provisions to account for his poor state of health. It's the first time Gerard Depardieu has come to trial after a number of allegations about his behaviour on film sets dating back many, many years. In this particular case, we're talking about a film which was made a few years ago, sang without trace, the film called Les Voluves.

Incidentally, about an ageing actor coming to terms with his own declining career. On the set, there were two women who said that they were abused sexually by Gerard Deposier, that he... He groped them, that he manhandled them, that he touched their breasts and their buttocks, that one of them complained and said she wanted an apology.

Incidentally, about an ageing actor coming to terms with his own declining career. On the set, there were two women who said that they were abused sexually by Gerard Deposier, that he... He groped them, that he manhandled them, that he touched their breasts and their buttocks, that one of them complained and said she wanted an apology.

She got a kind of apology, but one accompanied by all sorts of lewd language and so on. The defence, that is, Gerard W and his lawyers, contest this totally, say that only one side of the story has been heard so far. I mean, this is a very big story in France.

She got a kind of apology, but one accompanied by all sorts of lewd language and so on. The defence, that is, Gerard W and his lawyers, contest this totally, say that only one side of the story has been heard so far. I mean, this is a very big story in France.

Gerard Depordieu, we know, has been the butt of many, many accusations of sexual misbehaviour, abuse, lewd behaviour, going back some years now. But before that, he was what they call here a monstre sacré, a holy monster of cinema. In other words, the most admired and highly regarded of cinema actors of his time.

Gerard Depordieu, we know, has been the butt of many, many accusations of sexual misbehaviour, abuse, lewd behaviour, going back some years now. But before that, he was what they call here a monstre sacré, a holy monster of cinema. In other words, the most admired and highly regarded of cinema actors of his time.

And, I mean, probably the most well-known French male actor around the world, I would say. But, of course... His star fell dramatically when these accusations started coming in in the wake of the Me Too movement a few years ago, and now his reputation is a shadow of its former self.

And, I mean, probably the most well-known French male actor around the world, I would say. But, of course... His star fell dramatically when these accusations started coming in in the wake of the Me Too movement a few years ago, and now his reputation is a shadow of its former self.

From the opening sequence with cocky tough guy Jean-Paul Belmondo driving through rural France and nonchalantly shooting dead a traffic cop, you know you're watching a revolution in cinema. As Jean-Luc Godard later said of his generation of new wave directors, we walked into cinema like cavemen into Versailles. The love interest in Breathless was the American Gene Seberg.

From the opening sequence with cocky tough guy Jean-Paul Belmondo driving through rural France and nonchalantly shooting dead a traffic cop, you know you're watching a revolution in cinema. As Jean-Luc Godard later said of his generation of new wave directors, we walked into cinema like cavemen into Versailles. The love interest in Breathless was the American Gene Seberg.

It was all made on the hoof in Paris, with a tiny budget, minimal lighting and a handheld camera. Oh, yes, and a script that kept changing. Jean-Luc Godard said his best inspirations came at the last minute, so often the actors were more or less improvising. It means that this document, put on sale now by the widow of the film's producer, is at best a partial script.

It was all made on the hoof in Paris, with a tiny budget, minimal lighting and a handheld camera. Oh, yes, and a script that kept changing. Jean-Luc Godard said his best inspirations came at the last minute, so often the actors were more or less improvising. It means that this document, put on sale now by the widow of the film's producer, is at best a partial script.