Gérard Depardieu reigned over French cinema for half a century, a national icon as familiar as the baguette.

When French actor Gérard Depardieu walks into a Paris courtroom on Monday, he won’t just be facing two women who accuse him of sexual assault — he’ll also be confronting a nation long criticized for dragging its feet in confronting sexual violence, particularly when committed by the powerful.

Thomas Jolly is preparing to share France with the world with the Paris 2024 Olympics opening ceremony.