(no subject)

[rivka]

I've never seen a Roman Polanski movie.

And, you know, I'm glad. Because if there's some sort of magic crack in his films that strips people of any vestige of common decency, then I'm happy to have done without.

Kate Harding sums it up perfectly, as usual.

Comments

[kightp.livejournal.com]

I have seen several Roman Polanski movies. I even liked some of them ("Rosemary's Babym" "The Pianist," "Death and the Maiden."

Nontheless, I am as appalled by his apologists as Ms. Harding is, for exactly the same reasons.

That the woman who was the child he raped reportedly wants to put this behind her is understandable. But as another blogger (I've lost track of which one) pointed out, justice is not for the victim alone - justice is for *all* of us. And that larger "us" is not served by the notion that being talented enough, famous enough and rich enough somehow renders one above the law.

[matthewwdaly.livejournal.com]

In this case, I think that justice is particularly "for all of us". I think that it is important to keep the details of what Polanski did in our minds. But he'll never face justice for those charges in a way that will satisfy us. He was allowed to plead guilty to sex with a minor in exchange for the dropping of the charges related to the rape and drugging and all the rest of it. The case now is really about how he violated a court order to return for his sentencing for the only charge that we can hold against him because he realized that he knew that it would mean that he would have to spend time in jail-jail instead of rehab or probation. Neither you nor I are allowed to jump bail whether we are accused of rape or jaywalking, and having an Oscar doesn't get you out of that either.

I can't sufficiently express my sorrow for what Ms. Geimer had to endure and my gratitude for her giving what must have been unpleasant grand jury testimony, but she doesn't get to write get-out-of-jail-free cards either. First, the part of the case that involved her is over, so the system isn't even trying to traumatize her. And second, if she is looking for closure, then I would claim that it is a result of Polanski's continued cowardice and not the endurance of the justice system.