No article discussing Les Diables in 2025 can ignore the real-world context. In 2020, Adèle Haenel publicly accused director Christophe Ruggia of sexual harassment and assault, beginning when she was 12—the same age she was during the filming of Les Diables . In 2024, Ruggia was convicted and sentenced to four years (two suspended) for sexually assaulting Haenel.
Christophe Ruggia Starring: Adèle Haenel, Vincent Rottiers, Rochdy Labidi Genre: Drama / Road Movie
Le film marque les débuts foudroyants de l'actrice.
The story centers on 12-year-olds Joseph and Chloé, who have spent their lives cycling through foster homes and detention centers.
: Chloé suffers from haphophobia (fear of being touched), making the siblings' physical proximity a central tension.
In light of later allegations against director Christophe Ruggia—who was convicted in 2023 for sexually assaulting Adèle Haenel between the ages of 12 and 15, precisely during the period Les Diables was made and promoted—the film has taken on a deeply disturbing meta-context. Watching the film today is a complicated experience. One cannot separate the film’s theme of adult exploitation of children from the real-life tragedy that unfolded behind the camera. This dark backstory has paradoxically increased interest in the film, as audiences and critics seek to understand the work through the lens of the director’s crimes.
