In a stunning turn of events, renowned French actor Gerard Depardieu, who once portrayed a character inspired by disgraced former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn, has become the poster boy for France's #MeToo movement. Accused of rape and facing over a dozen sexual assault allegations, Depardieu's fall from grace has divided the French public, torn between his status as a cinematic icon and the serious allegations against him.

With a prolific career spanning over 150 films, including acclaimed classics such as "Cyrano de Bergerac," "Le Dernier Metro," and "Going Places," Depardieu has long been revered as a symbol of France's cinematic history. However, the tide seems to be turning. While French President Emmanuel Macron has refused to revoke Depardieu's Legion of Honor, the Paris wax museum has removed his statue, reflecting the growing backlash against the actor.

Depardieu's involvement in the #MeToo movement has been a pivotal moment for France, surpassing previous instances involving directors Roman Polanski and Christophe Ruggia. Despite being indicted on rape charges in connection to a 2018 lawsuit, Depardieu's career initially showed no signs of slowing down. He even presented a movie, "Robuste," at the prestigious Cannes' Critics Week in 2021. However, in April last year, a bombshell investigative story published in Mediapart revealed accusations of sexual misconduct by 13 women against the actor.

The scandal surrounding Depardieu began to escalate after the broadcast of a documentary on December 7. The film exposed raw footage of the actor making sexually inappropriate and obscene jokes during a shoot in North Korea. It also revealed a new complaint from actor Hélène Darras, alleging that Depardieu had sexually assaulted her during the filming of "Disco" in 2007. The Paris prosecutor's office confirmed that the complaint is under investigation. Furthermore, Spanish journalist Ruth Baza filed an official complaint against Depardieu in Spain, accusing him of assault during an interview in Paris in 1995.

The documentary triggered a wave of #MeToo-related events in France. Actor-turned-director Judith Godrèche exposed her own experience of being sexualized and exploited by filmmaker Benoit Jacquot when she was just 14 years old. Godrèche, who had previously accused Harvey Weinstein of harassment, spoke out against Jacquot, highlighting the power dynamics involved. Another case involves actor-turned-director Samuel Theis, who has been accused of rape by a crew member on his film "Je le jure." The producer, Caroline Bonmarchand, took the unprecedented step of isolating Theis from the shoot and allowing him to direct remotely.

Iris Brey, a prominent film critic and feminist scholar, drew parallels between Depardieu's downfall and that of Harvey Weinstein in the United States. In France, however, the response has been different. Brey described the empathy towards aggressors as reflective of France's rape culture. While some French stars have condemned Depardieu's behavior, others, including Sophie Marceau and Laure Calamy, have defended him. Notably, Pierre Richard and Carole Bouquet initially signed an op-ed in support of Depardieu but later distanced themselves upon discovering its far-right associations.

Depardieu's case has polarized the country, even more so than the controversial immigration policies of President Macron's government. Although some voices have called for stripping Depardieu of his Legion of Honor, Macron has vehemently defended the actor, citing the principle of "presumption of innocence."

As the fallout from Depardieu's actions continues, the feminist organization 50/50 is pushing for comprehensive measures to ensure workplace safety on film sets. This includes expanding workplace safety workshops to all crew members and actors, as well as the appointment of intimacy coordinators to address scenes involving sexuality or nudity.

While the outcome of the Depardieu case remains uncertain, it has undeniably raised awareness about the need to confront sexual harassment in France, challenging the idea that freedom of expression in the arts should provide a shield for unacceptable behavior. The movement continues to gain momentum, driven by the determination to create a safer environment for all those working in the film industry.