A Paris Court of Appeal on Friday sentenced French film director Christophe Ruggia to five years in prison for sexually assaulting actress Adèle Haenel when she was a minor, marking a significant ruling in one of France’s most prominent #MeToo cases.
Ruggia, 61, had previously been convicted in 2025 for assaulting Haenel in the early 2000s, when she was between 12 and 14 years old and he was in his late 30s. He was initially handed a four-year sentence, including a requirement to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet for two years.
However, the appellate court increased the sentence to five years, with three years suspended. Ruggia is required to serve the remaining two years under electronic surveillance.
Haenel, now 37, rose to international recognition for her role in the 2019 film Portrait of a Lady on Fire before stepping away from the film industry. She was among the first high-profile figures to accuse the French cinema industry of ignoring allegations of sexual abuse.
The case dates back to the production of the 2002 film The Devils, directed by Ruggia, which marked Haenel’s debut. The film, which explores an incestuous relationship between siblings, included controversial scenes involving child actors.
Investigators revealed that several crew members had expressed discomfort with Ruggia’s conduct during filming. According to court findings, between 2001 and 2004, Haenel regularly visited the director, during which he allegedly engaged in inappropriate touching, including caressing her thighs and touching intimate parts of her body.
In its ruling, the court described the acts as “extremely serious” offences against a minor, noting they had a lasting and documented impact on Haenel’s mental health.
French Court Sentences Director Christophe Ruggia to Five Years in Child Sexual Assault Appeal Case
