It was a historic moment in the country’s #MeToo movement when Gérard DePardieu, one of France’s biggest movie stars, was placed on the sex offender registry this week after being convicted of sexually assaulting two women in a 2021 film.

"This is a message to all those in power, that they have a responsibility to the court and can be convicted," said Catherine Le Magueresse. "The message is: Beware of the impunity, the end of impunity."

Depardieu, 76, has produced more than 200 films and TV series, and over the years he has given France one of the key obstacles to the #MeToo movement: France's admiration for creative genius. Depardieu's acting talent and international reputation are considered so great that he cannot touch. French films and politics are slow and are even reluctant to take abuse claims seriously.

"This is the first time that there is such a strong signal that no one is beyond violence in women," said Green Congressman Sandrine Rousseau. She believes that more needs to be done now.

The judge ruled that DePardieu sexually assaulted two women on the film collection Les Volets Verts (green shutters), noting that the actor seemed to "do not understand the concept of consent and did not understand the harmful consequences of his actions". Depardieu is trapped, grabs and touches the women, yells obscenely, and calls one of the "thieves" speaks.

Feminists say the priority now is to clean up gender discrimination within the legal system itself. DePardieu's trial shows that French courts may be cruel to survivors of sexual violence. It is clear that the rape of 51 men on 51 men at trial last year was in a coma by her husband. Pelicot said she was "humiliated" by defense attorneys who asked the people who might think she was drunk or pretended to be asleep. Her attorney Antoine Camus criticized how to discuss whether you are a "good' good person" in French courts.

The judge went further in the Depardieu trial. He set a legal precedent, ruling that Depardieu's defense attorney Jérémie Assous was "too harsh" to the two women in the court and therefore had to be compensated for the "secondary victim". A woman, Amélie, a decorator, said her experience of being questioned by Depardieu's defense was "hell". Assous tells women that they are liars, not real victims. He called women's lawyers hysterical "despicable and stupid."

Céline of the feminist group Osezleféminisme said the court's ruling on the treatment of the complainant Depardieu may be a turning point in France. “Depardieu’s defense is absolutely shocking, with multiple over-discrimination and gender discrimination.

Witnesses told the court that DePardieu's actions have been well-known for years. However, the actor was defended at the highest level of French culture and politics. In 2023, 50 films and cultural figures including actor Charlotte Rampling and singer Carla Bruni signed a petition titled "Don't cancel Gérard Depardieu."

Depardieu's greatest defender is the French president. Emmanuel Macron was elected in 2017, just like the #MeToo movement competes globally after revelations against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein - vowing to combat violence against women and girls. But in 2023, when DePardieu formally investigated rape in another case, and the gender-discriminatory comments revealed in the TV documentary also face scrutiny, Macron defended him saying “he made France proud.” Asked about the deprivation of the state awards for the divestiture, Macron suggested that Depardieu was the target of the "search". Macron has not commented on Depardieu's beliefs yet.

French Equality Minister Aurore Bergé said after the verdict: "No talent, no matter how great, no immunity."

Depardieu, who denied the charges and appealed his conviction, was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Earlier this year, film director Christophe Ruggia was convicted of sexual assault by actor Adèle Haenel in the early 2000s for four years in prison, suspended for two years, two years, and two years with electronic bracelets available for both years.

The case in France may be slow. The Paris Attorney's Office has asked DePardieu to face further trials of rape and sexual assault in another case filed by actor Charlotte Arnould, but no date has been set. Depardieu denied the allegations. French TV host and news reader Patrick Poivre d'Arvor (called PPDA) has been formally investigated for alleged rape after many women stood up, considered one of France's largest #MeToo cases. But the case took a long time. He denied the charges.

Emmanuelle Dancourt, president of the Association of Metropolitan Society, is one of the women who filed a complaint against D'Arvor. She participated in the trial of DePardieu and said the French legal system should undergo a "full overhaul" and there are professional courts on gender discrimination and sexual violence.

The dancers say that despite the importance of exhibition business, the #MeToo group in France is being used in conjunction across sectors and social classes, including industry and low-income jobs, so the action is not just focused on “1% #METOO.”

She said women who speak out in France, including two victims of Depardieu, will still have an impact on their careers. "France cannot be behind this culturally and politically," Dantuart said. "This cannot be a step forward, two steps back."