Many of Hollywood's philosopher kings disagree, but I applaud Los Angeles prosecutors for finally prodding the Swiss to arrest Polanski. Though I count Chinatown and Rosemary's Baby as among my favorite films of all time, making great art should not immunize artists from liability for criminal acts. Even if Harvey Weinstein, Woody Allen and Whoopi Goldberg do not think statutory rape is a real crime (and dare we say Roman Polanski and those celebrities seeking his release), the state of California says otherwise. Ignorantia legis neminem excusat (Ignorance of the law excuses no one). For those who argue that Samantha Geimer, the victim, has forgiven Polanski, this is a criminal matter - where society is prosecuting Polanski - not a civil suit in which the injured party gets to decide whether to pursue a claim. Incidentally, though Polanski settled Geimer's suit against him for $500k, he reneged on paying her.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Polanski should be brought to justice
Last year, we caught Marina Zenovich's captivating and very pro-Polanski documentary Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired. Though Zenovich brought up important new information about the case - about the star-crazy judge Rittenband presiding over Polanski's future and the judge's possible ex parte communications with David Wells, then a Los Angeles D.A. (though not Polanski's prosecutor). Though these improprieties may call into question the fairness of any plea deal and/or sentence - they do not mitigate Polanski's criminal liability. The facts of the Polanski's case are clear: he drugged (without her knowledge) and provided alcohol to a thirteen year old girl and then had sex with her. As correct a life as Polanski may currently be leading, he has shown no remorse for his actions (especially in declining to pay the settlement amount) and instead flew the country. He needs to be brought to justice.
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It took me a while to figure out how I felt about this. Polanski has had such a complicated public life (the brutal murder of his pregnant wife could also be mentioned to build sympathy for him), but you're right...none of it matters if he hasn't paid for his horrible crime as the law demands.
I had read that his victim had, in adulthood, said she wished society would stop trying to punish him for it. But there's a reason we don't look to victims and their families for guidance -- usually to prevent unfair vengeance, and then rarely, as in this case, to guard against strange mercy.
The fact that he (perhaps?) hasn't even paid her the money he agreed to is news to me. Such a crazy story overall...
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