Roman Polanski

[Edie]

From the AP:

 

Director Roman Polanski was arrested by Swiss police as he flew in for the Zurich Film Festival and faces possible extradition to the United States for having sex in 1977 with a 13-year-old girl, authorities said Sunday.

 

Polanski was scheduled to receive an honorary award at the festival when he was apprehended Saturday at the airport, the Swiss Justice Ministry said in a statement. It said U.S. authorities have sought the arrest of the 76-year-old director around the world since 2005.

 

"There was a valid arrest request and we knew when he was coming," ministry spokesman Guido Balmer told The Associated Press. "That's why he was taken into custody."

 

Balmer said the U.S. would now have to make a formal extradition request.

 

Polanski fled the U.S. in 1978, a year after pleading guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse with the underage girl. The director of such classic films as "Chinatown" and "Rosemary's Baby" has asked a U.S. appeals court in California to overturn a judges' refusal to throw out his case. He claims misconduct by the now-deceased judge who had arranged a plea bargain and then reneged on it.

 

The Swiss statement said Polanski was in "provisional detention for extradition," but added he would not be transferred to U.S. authorities until all proceedings are completed. Polanski can contest his detention and any extradition decision in the Swiss courts, it said.

 

Polanski has lived for the past three decades in France, where his career has continued to flourish, and he received a directing Oscar in absentia for the 2002 movie "The Pianist."

 

Polanski has not been extradited from France because his crime reportedly was not covered under treaties between the United States and France.

 

He has avoided traveling to countries likely to extradite him. For instance, he testified by video link from Paris in a 2005 libel trial in London against Vanity Fair magazine because he did not want to enter Britain for fear of being arrested.

 

In Paris, Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand said he was "dumbfounded" by Polanski's arrest, adding that he "strongly regrets that a new ordeal is being inflicted on someone who has already experienced so many of them."

 

Those comments referred to the fact that Polanski, a native of France who was taken to Poland by his parents, escaped Krakow's Jewish ghetto as a child and lived off the charity of strangers. His mother died at the Auschwitz Nazi death camp.

 

Mitterrand's ministry said Sunday that he was in contact with French President Nicolas Sarkozy "who is following the case with great attention and shares the minister's hope that the situation can be quickly resolved."

 

Polanski worked his way into filmmaking in Poland, gaining an Oscar nomination for best foreign-language film in 1964 for his "Knife in the Water." Offered entry to Hollywood, he directed the classic "Rosemary's Baby" in 1968.

 

But his life was shattered again in 1969 when his wife, actress Sharon Tate, and four other people were gruesomely murdered by followers of Charles Manson. She was eight months pregnant.

 

He went on to make another American classic, "Chinatown," released in 1974.

 

In 1977, he was accused of raping the teenager while photographing her during a modeling session. The girl said Polanski plied her with champagne and part of a Quaalude pill at Jack Nicholson's house while the actor was away. She said that, despite her protests, he performed oral sex, intercourse and sodomy on her.

 

Polanski was allowed to plead guilty to one of six charges, unlawful sexual intercourse, and was sent to prison for 42 days of evaluation.

 

Lawyers agreed that would be his full sentence, but the judge tried to renege on the plea bargain. Aware the judge would sentence him to more prison time and require his voluntary deportation, Polanski fled to France.

 

The victim, Samantha Geimer, who long ago identified herself publicly, has joined in Polanski's bid for dismissal, saying she wants the case to be over. She sued Polanski and reached an undisclosed settlement.

 

Zurich Film Festival organizers said Polanski's detention had caused "shock and dismay," but said they would go ahead with Sunday's planned retrospective of the director's work.

 

The Swiss Directors Association sharply criticized authorities for what it deemed "not only a grotesque farce of justice, but also an immense cultural scandal."

 

 

I am in the "leave him alone" camp.

[Sir Stewart]

Mere days after Susan Atkins' death.

[bjorn_skurj]

Huh. I thought Switzerland was all neutral and shit.

[Guest Speed Racer]

I am in the "leave him alone" camp.

 

Why? I love his work and all, but if he committed a crime he really should take responsibility for his actions. If he did not commit a crime, then he really should have cleared that up in 1977. A lot of people keep saying that the police should let it go, and I've never really understood why.

[cryptique]

...because the victim doesn't want him pursued further? She has supported his attempt to get the case dismissed.

 

Aside from that, I got nothin'.

[Synthesizer Patel]

i think the americans have finally worked out he's not likely to make any good films like he did in the 60s and 70s - they've given him nearly 3 more decades to have a go, and he's failed - so they're haulin' him in!

[bjorn_skurj]

Yeah. I would like to have a talk with him about some flaws in "The Ninth Gate."

[Edie]

Why? I love his work and all, but if he committed a crime he really should take responsibility for his actions. If he did not commit a crime, then he really should have cleared that up in 1977. A lot of people keep saying that the police should let it go, and I've never really understood why.

 

First, there is the back story (which I read in Vanity Fair some years ago, so my recollection may be a bit off) which laid a lot of blame at the feet of the mother of the victim, who put up her daughter to the claim.

 

Secondly, Roman then pled guilty to a lesser charge, served 30 days, then was the victim of a reneged deal. I think he did want to put it behind him (which is why he served some time), but then the judge decided to change the deal. Hopefully this time he will be able to put it behind him.

 

From the AP update:

 

Polanski's long-running legal saga gained new momentum late last year with the release of an HBO documentary, "Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired," which claimed misconduct by the now-deceased judge who handled 1977 case and reneged on a plea deal. With the new evidence presented in the film, Polanski sent a team of lawyers to court in Los Angeles seeking dismissal of the charges.

 

But despite acknowledging "substantial misconduct," a judge ruled that Polanski would have to appear in person to pursue his motion. Polanski's lawyers said he decided not to risk arrest on a fugitive warrant, and planned instead never to set foot in the United States.

 

His victim, Samantha Geimer, who long ago identified herself publicly, sued Polanski and reached an undisclosed settlement. But she has since joined in Polanski's bid for dismissal, saying she wants the case to be over and at one point offering to come to court in Polanski's place to argue for dismissal.

[HungryHippo]

if they decide to let him go, wouldn't that send a mixed message to potential rapists/ aspiring stars? "oh, its ok to rape someone if you're famous." regardless of the victim claiming that they should leave him alone, it obviously caused her some pain back in the day or she wouldn't have come forward about it or even sued Polanski. in my opinion, her whole "let it go" mentality is part of her healing process which is totally normal. i'm sure it was easy for her to know that Polanski was far away in France, never to set foot in the US again, but if they continue to pursue this, he'll be back here in no time and, more than likely, she will be forced to sit in at future hearings, trials, etc. which i'm sure she'd like to avoid.

[Guest Speed Racer]

First, there is the back story (which I read in Vanity Fair some years ago, so my recollection may be a bit off) which laid a lot of blame at the feet of the mother of the victim, who put up her daughter to the claim.

 

Secondly, Roman then pled guilty to a lesser charge, served 30 days, then was the victim of a reneged deal. I think he did want to put it behind him (which is why he served some time), but then the judge decided to change the deal. Hopefully this time he will be able to put it behind him.

 

From what you quoted and I've now read, every single opportunity he has had to put this behind him (and he has had a few) required him to show up in court, and he remained a fugitive. I understand not wanting to go up against a lousy judge, but it likely would have worked out in appeals through his attorneys. Right or wrong, he still needs to take responsibility for his actions. Choosing to run has only prolonged that call to responsibility, but also wasted several nations' tax dollars.

 

As for the whole "victim wants to put it behind her" twist: a) the victim, who does not want to pursue this further, has offered to show up in court with him to testify for his dismissal and b ) if we only pursued cases of sexual violence where the victim wanted to pursue her offender, we would have a lot more offenders out there.

 

I'm not writing my position very well. My bottom line is that he has, time and again, declined to take responsibility for his actions, he should be held accountable for what he has done, and I don't understand people who argue that 32 years of avoiding responsibility for sexually assaulting someone should be considered grounds for letting the past be past.

[Littlebear]

Curiously, I'm more angry at the fact Pinochet lived and died peacefully.

[Dude]

i think the americans have finally worked out he's not likely to make any good films like he did in the 60s and 70s - they've given him nearly 3 more decades to have a go, and he's failed - so they're haulin' him in!

 

The Pianist is damn near perfect in my eyes. Once he completed wrap on that, I was fine with the cops slapping the cuffs on him.

[Guest Speed Racer]

The Pianist is damn near perfect in my eyes. Once he completed wrap on that, I was fine with the cops slapping the cuffs on him.

 

Here, here. What an excellent film. I might pop it in tonight, if Baby Mama weren't coming from Netflix. Only the best for me.

[Edie]

I'm not writing my position very well. My bottom line is that he has, time and again, declined to take responsibility for his actions, he should be held accountable for what he has done, and I don't understand people who argue that 32 years of avoiding responsibility for sexually assaulting someone should be considered grounds for letting the past be past.

 

He did time. Maybe it wasn't enough to fit the crime -- but there was a deal, and it disappeared. That's why he left in the first place more than 30 years ago.

[Guest Speed Racer]

He did time. Maybe it wasn't enough to fit the crime -- but there was a deal, and it disappeared. That's why he left in the first place more than 30 years ago.

 

And he was arrested recently because he IS a fugitive now, whether he served time or not.

 

His responsibility is, and has always been, to show up in court and take care of that technicality. I can wrap my head around how he didn't want to try to clear things up so long as that parcticular judge was in charge of his case, but the judge has been out of the picture for a while. He needs to show up, let them announce his time served, and deal with the consequences of being a fugitive, if they even decide to apply that in his case.

[Edie]

And he was arrested recently because he IS a fugitive now, whether he served time or not.

 

His responsibility is, and has always been, to show up in court and take care of that technicality. I can wrap my head around how he didn't want to try to clear things up so long as that parcticular judge was in charge of his case, but the judge has been out of the picture for a while. He needs to show up, let them announce his time served, and deal with the consequences of being a fugitive, if they even decide to apply that in his case.

 

I think you and I are just going to disagree on this one

[bjorn_skurj]

Roman could have done a little research on what would happen to him if he set foot in Switzerland. He must have assumed, like I did, that the Swiss had no extradition treaty. That said, I think the Swiss will not extradite him, extradite him to France or the French Foreign Legion will be sent in to spring him.

[isadorah]

I find it bothersome that we excuse bad behavior from talented famous people.

[bjorn_skurj]

Who's "we"? It's those French people who think he's so awesome he can rape teens and get away with it.

[bjorn_skurj]

Correction - some of those French people.

 

 

Polanski Case Exposes Divisions in France

By DOREEN CARVAJAL and MICHAEL CIEPLY PARIS — While an international team of lawyers fought to free Roman Polanski from a Swiss jail, where he is being held for possible extradition tothe United States, the action against the 76-year-old film director isquickly exposing deep fault lines between his supporters in the arts, entertainment and politics and his increasingly outspoken critics.

 

The reaction gained steam Tuesday after an array of celebrities and French political officials in the Sarkozy administration defended Mr.Polanski, a French and Polish citizen who was arrested Saturday as he arrived in Zurich to attend a film festival. He fled the United States in 1978 just before he was to be sentenced for having sex with a minor — a 13-year-old girl — under a plea agreement in which he avoided other charges including rape and sodomy.

 

For two days, supporters in the demi-monde of movies and media circulated petitions and took to the airwaves in his defense. Among them was the philosopher Bernard-Henri Lévy, who suggested that perhaps the Swiss had more serious criminal matters to attend to than Mr. Polanski, who, he said, “perhaps had committed a youthful error.”

 

By Tuesday, however, the mood was shifting among French politicians on the right, left and within the ranks of President Nicolas Sarkozy’s own center-right party, the UMP. Marc Laffineur, the vice-president of the French assembly and a member of the UMP, took issue with the French culture and foreign minister’s remarks supporting Mr. Polanski, saying “the charge of raping a child 13 years old is not something trivial, whoever the suspect is.”

 

Within the Green party, Daniel Cohn-Bendit — a French deputy in the European parliament whose popularity is rising — also criticized Sarkozy administration officials for leaping too quickly to Mr. Polanski’s side despite the serious nature of his crime. On the extreme right, the father and daughter politicians Jean and Marine Le Pen also attacked the ministers, saying they were supporting “a criminal pedophile in the name of the rights of the political-artistic class.”

 

Marie-Louise Fort, a French lawmaker in the Assembly who has sponsored anti-incest legislation, said in an interview that she was shocked that Mr. Polanski was attracting support from the political and artistic elite. “I don’t believe that public opinion is spontaneously supporting Mr. Polanski at all,” she said. “I believe that there is a distinction between the mediagenic class of artists and ordinary citizens that have a vision that is more simple.”

 

The mood was even more hostile in blogs and e-mails to newspapers and news magazines. Of the 30,000 participants in an online poll by the French daily Le Figaro, more than 70 percent said Mr. Polanski, 76, should face justice. And in the magazine Le Point, more than 400 letter writers were almost universal in their disdain for Mr. Polanski.

 

That contempt was not only directed at Mr. Polanski, but at the French class of celebrities — nicknamed Les People — who are part of Mr. Polanski’s rarified Parisian world. Letter writers to Le Point scorned Les People as the “crypto-intelligentsia of our country” who deliver “eloquent phrases that defy common sense.”

 

Still, many others continued to rally to the Oscar-winning director’s defense.

 

Film industry leaders like Woody Allen, Pedro Almodovar, Martin Scorsese and Costa Gavras signed a petition with about 100 names that expressed“stupefaction” with the arrest of Mr. Polanski at the Zurich airport.But support was not universal; Luc Besson, a prominent French film director and producer, was not on the list, though he describes himself as a Polanski friend.

 

“This is a man who I love a lot and know a little bit,” Mr. Besson said in a radio interview with RTL Soir. “Our daughters are good friends. But there is one justice, and that should be the same for everyone. I will let justice happen.” He added, “I don’t have any opinion on this, but I have a daughter, 13 years old. And if she was violated, nothing would be the same, even 30 years later.”

 

Meanwhile, Mr. Polanski remains in custody somewhere in Zurich; officials have not said exactly where. He was, however, visited by French and Polish diplomats, who afterward pronounced that he was being well treated.

 

In a statement on Tuesday, the Swiss Criminal Court said it would decide “in the next few weeks” on its response to Mr. Polanski’srequest for release. Any decision can be appealed, the Swiss Justice Ministry said over the weekend.

 

Mr. Polanski’s lawyer in Paris, Hervé Temime, said Mr. Polanski was seeking release even if conditions were attached.

 

Much of the initial criticism of the American and Swiss authorities behind the arrest centered on the question of timing: why was Mr. Polanski arrested now, three decades after his guilty plea, and not on any of the countless other visits he has made to Switzerland over the years (he maintains homes there and in France)?

 

Defending their actions, American law enforcement officials in Los Angeles have said the arrest was a simple matter of opportunity, and they issued a timeline that showed that they had quietly submitted an Interpol “red notice” — a request for international assistance in arresting a fugitive — concerning Mr. Polanski that was originally distributed in 2002. A spokesman for Interpol in Lyon, France, declined to comment on Tuesday. The red notice on Mr. Polanski apparently was not posted on Interpol’s public Web site, which is used to enlist the help of the public in pursuit of fugitives.

 

“He just showed up at a time and a place where we knew he would be available,” Sandi Gibbons, a spokeswoman for Stephen L. Cooley, the Los Angeles County district attorney, said Monday.

 

The district attorney’s office circulated a list of the actions it had taken and the inquiries it had made to track and try to apprehend Mr. Polanski as he traveled to at least 10 countries, including what appeared to be a near miss in 2007, when officials relayed a request for information from Israel about a visit he made there. By the time the information arrived, “Polanski had left Israel and was not arrested,” the prosecutors’ advisory said.

 

While Mr. Polanski has lived a fairly open life, he has avoided visits to Britain, where extradition would be easier. When in Germany directing his latest film, “The Ghost,” Mr. Polanski occasionally avoided the set, directing through a remote communications setup and leading some members of the cast and crew to believe that he was trying to make apprehension more difficult, according to a person briefed on the shoot and speaking on condition of anonymity.

 

Mr. Polanski has originally been charged with six criminal counts, including rape and sodomy, involving a 13-year-old girl whom he was accused of plying with alcohol and drugs. He eventually pleaded guilty to a single count of having sex with a minor, spent 42 days in state prison under psychiatric evaluation, and fled on the eve of his sentencing in the belief that the judge in the case would not agree to let him off without further jail time.

 

A documentary film released last year reignited interest in the case, and raised concerns about possible judicial and prosecutorial misconduct. In the film, a prosecutor describes how he had coached the judge, now deceased, concerning Mr. Polanski’s sentencing.

 

Alan Cowell reported from Paris and Michael Cieply from Los Angeles. David Jolly contributed reporting from Paris.

[Guest Speed Racer]

Does anyone really want Woody Allen signing a petition testifying to his or her upstanding sexual conduct?

[mpolak21]

Does anyone really want Woody Allen signing a petition testifying to his or her upstanding sexual conduct?

 

[isadorah]

Does anyone really want Woody Allen signing a petition testifying to his or her upstanding sexual conduct?

[Littlebear]

Who's "we"? It's those French people who think he's so awesome he can rape teens and get away with it.

 

Sure. And being put in prison for some years certainly allows to get away with it after. That's what everyone takes as justice in this world. That ridiculous notion of punishment.

 

"to pay the price". Good Lord, as if there was a price to pay. If that is the case, many people are ready to pay the price.

 

In short, to tell what I think, punishment doesn't change anything.

 

I don't care that 76 years old Polanski would be finally put in jail. I sincerely don't care. What irritates me, is the people who want to punish him for the sake of the punishment, and call that *justice*. But that's not *justice* at all. Give me a break, moralist freaks.

[Guest Speed Racer]

What irritates me, is the people who want to punish him for the sake of the punishment, and call that *justice*. But that's not *justice* at all. Give me a break, moralist freaks.

 

Who, in this thread, has said that? Who anywhere has said that?