Marc Sandberg Is anyone surprised that Woody Allen, seen here with his wife and stepdaughter, supports Roman Polansky You'll find hundreds of names on Hollywood's pro-Polanski petition. And, to anyone calling this a case of morals: This is not an example of American Puritanical values gone wrong. What does his continued success reveal about the film worlds true attitude towards sexual assault? Xavier Beauvois Who gives a shit? Kingsley, who has worked with Polanski multiple times, would need to pass. Type . He fled the country to France before he could be properly sentenced. This is actually a very civil process being carried out in regards to someone who did a very uncivil thing. But I ask her how it feels to see Polanski, a convicted sex offender, still held up as a celebrated director, and what it says about the industrys true feelings about women and girls. Emir Kusturica I didnt know. I say treat them all equally! He never admited to raping anyone.. That doesnt change the fact that mr Polanski is a scumbag and a halve who drugged and raped a child when he was 44, fled the country to live in France where he continued to make movies, live a good life etc. To me, child abuse is the where I will absolutely put my line in the sand. Sign up for our Email Newsletters here. Why, however, any of you think that this somehow excuses the fact that the man drugged and raped a child is beyond me. "I wore one to DGA," he told Metro. The judge went back on his word because he was afriad of public opinion like yours. What a sad coward. At Jack Nicholsons house, she tells him shes thirsty, so he gives her alcohol. There is no one who is so talented that deserve to walk from something like this (and hes been walking for 30 years). He was a filmmaker whose work I admired greatly. Laurence Roulet But you can have your eyes opened and completely change the way you want to live. and seeing people in the comments try to defend him as well by saying the girl was mature for her age? But this is the most important part YM: Accusing the judge of things and the girl of things and feminists and lactose intolerant people and etc. This extradition, if it takes place, will be heavy in consequences and will take away his freedom. Terry Gilliam Just ask her. the mindset to handle this cituation in a mature He is not a good man. Shall we all rape, murder, steal, defraud etc. It was signed by some of the biggest names in filmindividuals who were willing to discount the fact that Polanski was charged in court with drugging a 13-year-old with alcohol and half a Quaalude before forcibly performing oral, vaginal, and anal sex acts upon her, despite her pleas for him to stop. I dont know what the rationals might be for those who seek his pardoning, be it moral ambiguity, sycophancy, going along with what they see as hip or simply the belief that the group they belong to is somehow superior and has a right to use common people for their own amusement, but it would be a mistake to give the law a pass to accommodate this utterly reprehensible man. When he started kissing her she told him: No keep away. When he performed oral sex on her she was ready to cry and asked him to stop. Radovan Tadic Everytime you pop in Rosemarys baby or Chinatown think about how YOU helped commit the rape of a 13 year old girl. Influencers: Profiles of a Partnership 2022, How to Pitch Stories and Articles to IndieWire, Patty Jenkins Told Chris Pine to Try Directing: 'You Gotta Do Something Besides Wait in Your Trailer', The Best True Crime Streaming Now, from 'Unsolved Mysteries' to 'McMillions' to 'The Staircase', 17 HBO and HBO Max Original Series to Get Excited About in 2023. said that Polanski is "very clearly not a predator" and had a rant about how he is a family man. Artists are not above the law in any country.. Polanski, you sense, has never even tried to understand this.) After Tate was murdered in 1969, when Polanski was 36, he spent time in Gstaad, where he slept with schoolgirls aged 16 to 19, who were, he writes, more beautiful, in a natural, coltish way, than they ever would be again. Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu He describes grooming Gailey on the drive to the photoshoot: I asked when shed first started having sex, he writes, as if thats a normal thing for a 43-year-old man to ask a 13-year-old girl. The judge certainly didnt give A DAMN about the girl. Protecting one of its own, even one who has openly admitted to carrying out such despicable acts. Instead, he describes trying to arrange a date with her. Defending Polanski in the face of his full admission of drugging and raping a 13 year-old, fleeing charges because he thought he was too important to face the consequences of his actions, boasting to Martin Amis that EVERYONE wants to F*** little girls! and complaining how HE is the victim (in true sociopathic form) by not being able to work in Hollywood for 30 years, while never ONCE saying that what he did was unfathomably wrong, has nothing of importance to say about humanity. Insanity. Dont worry YM, I didnt forget you. In 2009, when Polanski was arrested at a Zurich airport in a failed extradition attempt, over 100 Hollywood celebrities signed a petition calling for his release. But apparently, you artists arent supposed to be subjected to the rules and expectations we mere mortals face. And yet Polanskis name is mentioned only sporadically, even though he is the only one with an actual conviction. Jean-Jacques Beineix "The thing I feel like I gained from it is empathy towards people who have made mistakes. She said regardless of the fact she knows him and the terrible things he has been through, a crime is a crime," Hayward-Tapp told the Independent in 2009. Polanski directs Kate Winslet, Jodie Foster, Christoph Waltz and John C. Reilly in the 2011 film Carnage. I urge you to read the full transcript of Ms. Gaileys testimony! Sure, admire his work. If he believed her to be old enough, why did he drug her? Tilda Swinton Yes other people get away with this. He raped a child! i was somewhat sexually active at that time but still a virgin. Giuseppe Tornatore Michel Ferry Michel Ocelot On these facts, everyone agrees. Tilda Swinton would like to graciously pass on being interviewed. As for those listed above, their association with this ill-conceived effort will always taint my opinion of them and while I dont necessarily agree that viewing CHINATOWN condones pedophilia there is a certain stink that hangs over anything associated with Roman Polanski and to a degree that stink will rub off on the signatures above. Giuseppe Bertolucci AFP is reporting that a grand assembly of filmmakers, actors and producers from around the world have signed a petition urging the release of director Roman Polanski, who was arrested. Those people dont want justice or protection of children. Although the Spanish director signed the 2009 petition supporting convicted child rapist Roman Polanski, Almodovars been scathing when it comes to criticising Hollywoods institutional sexism. Many 13 year olds - boys and girls- have sex and very often with those older than them. I understand that there seems to have been a biased judge in the original case. Like all arguments in Polanskis defence, the documentary stresses the previous tragedies in his life: his mother, four months pregnant, was killed in the Holocaust; his wife, eight months pregnant, was brutally murdered by the Manson family. To not face your own actions but run away when you dont like the consequences. Jean-Pierre Marois What purpose does it serve to lock up Mr. Polanski when the prison space could be used to protect the public from violent offenders? The judge went back on his word because he was afriad of public opinion like yours. Will this effect them? By their extraterritorial nature, film festivals the world over have always permitted works to be shown and for filmmakers to present them freely and safely, even when certain States opposed this. On March 10, 1977, then-43-year-old film director Roman Polanski was arrested and charged in Los Angeles with six offenses against Samantha Gailey (now Geimer), [2] a then-13-year-old girl [3] - unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, rape by use of drugs, perversion, sodomy, a lewd and lascivious act upon a child under 14, and furnishing a The following is the SACD petition, followed by a list of names of people who had signed it as of tonight. In fact the number was four. Christian Gion Andr Larqui And yet, for the past 40 years, many of them have been falling over themselves to work with a self-confessed child rapist, even defending him by pointing to his artistic credentials. I was mostly just on and off saying: No, stop. But I wasnt fighting really because there was no one else there and I had no place to go. But Gailey wouldnt have had to endure any attention if Polanski hadnt raped her. Julian Schnabel That does not make what Polanski did any better. For a more extensive detailing of Polanskis arrest and potential extradition to the United States, check out indieWIREs coverage from earlier today. HES SUFFERED ENOUGH. We should not however allow him to ever enter this country again. His comments on the subject indicate no remorse and in fact seem to indicate a perverse (of course) pride in his engaging in satisfying his twisted appetites. Id say that a number of these (American) one-hit wonders and struggling Indie folks appear to want to install themselves in more-accomplished company. FREE ROMAN POLANSKI! Roman was charged with sex with minor, not real rape. Do you understand the court will make no decision regarding probation and sentencing until the judge reads all of the reports, Do you understand at the time of your sentencing, the prosecutor may argue that you should go to state prison or be incarcerated in the county jail?, (to Polanskis attorney) Have you explained to your client all of the possible outcomes? Polanski denies the claims. Alain Terzian Who among the Moral Police gives a shit? Broadly reached out to Almodovar to ask if he regrets supporting Polanski, but he declined to reply by the time of publication. AOC declares 'we were right.'. it just makes you sick to your stomach to see so many people that you gathered so much inspiration from dissapoint you in such a vile way. Some dont reply at all, despite repeated approaches. Everyone signing this list should be ashamed of themselves. Accept Read More. Claude Lelouch We reached out to some of the most high-profile signatories to a 2009 petition in support of Roman Polanski, to ask them whether they regretted their endorsement of the convicted abuser. i can only wish you all the worst, and i hope you come to feel deeply ashamed. Abderrahmane Sissako Shocking what your statement implies. ", Mashable Australia's Web Culture Reporter.Reach out to me on Twitter at @Johnny_Lieu or via email at jlieu [at] mashable.com, "I take responsibility for not thinking about it enough. The mob wants revenge. If Hollywood has grown so insular from and arrogant to society at large, its time they were knocked down a peg or two. but this summer,when right when i turned 14 i gave in and had sex with a 27 year old man. Sigourney Weaver, Harrison Ford, Johnny Depp, Ewan McGregor, Pierce Brosnan, Kate Winslet and many more have appeared in Polanski movies in the decades since his conviction, and questions about why they were working with a convicted child rapist were seen as tacky, proof of a rigid mind more focused on gossip than art. Furthermore, plea bargains are totally up to the judge, if he felt the deal was too lenient than he was perfectly in his legal right to not honor the deal. The fact that filmmakers may present their work and travel freely and safely at and to film events, as every person may do at and to other unrestricted public properties, does not make them diplomats. None of my business. Too icky, I suppose to add the details of your purported heros heinous crime. Jan Kounen Broadly reached out to Cruz to ask if she regrets supporting Polanski, but she declined to reply by the time of publication. 3. so dont free him :), First off Mr. Polanski did not rape anyone. . These included Harrison Ford,. The thing I feel like I gained from it is empathy towards people who have made mistakes. Some people on other blogs Ive read suggested to separate the person from his work since many artist have personalities or values that arent charming. Those that signed the petition, I would Hes an animal because of what he did to a child; hes a coward because he didnt take his punishment like a man with character. Part of me feels extreme disgust right now because I think that the pass many are giving to Polanski is a reflection of a misogynistic culture that deep down believes a woman (or in this case, a girl) always wants it. That is automatically rape as a child cannot give informed consent. - la SACD Jean-Jacques Annaud And I still have a good lot of movies to see. 4. No one should have pity for him - his suffering is completely self-inflicted. Signed? He should not have to go on trial again for a 30 year old statutory rape, but should have to answer to the flight. Martin Scorsese and Woody Allen want Roman Polanski released from a Swiss Jail. The . 2023 IndieWire Media, LLC. In recent months, Polanskis supporters in Britain and the US, who were once so vocal in his defence, have been notable by their silence. Polanski has not served his time and now he is guilty of evading justice. Ren Gainville It is sad that these people think Polanski is above the law!! The case is not a case of morals. If he's lucky.". The whole world will be so much safer if Polanski ends his days behind bars. Its despicable that some Hollywood stars would rather support a pedophile then uphold a serious charge such as rape of an underage girl. I hope all of you outraged ones stay away from children everywhere. She spread herself and I entered her. Michael Mann, Tilda Swinton, Vangelis, Christophe Barratier, Lynch, Scorsese, Allen, Louis Garrel, Ludivine, the divine Jeanne Moreau. Danis Tanovic Michele Placido His plea bargain didnt fall apart. Gianluca Farinelli Fonda made his professional. Jonathan Demme The year after he fled the US he gave an interview to Martin Amis, in which he declared: Judges want to fuck young girls. We reached out to some of the most high-profile signatories. Polanski is a child rapist probably a serial child rapist. - The crew of Polanskis latest film, Ghost Under 1192.5 of the Penal Code that the approval of the Court to the plea is not binding to the Court.. (that the court may change the terms upon further review) How do you plead to this felony? One would think that these filmmakers have enough money to hire a proper lawyer to draft their petition, if they were serious about it. This is a real asteroid-kicking movie. 1994 Actor Death And The Maiden Roman Polanski Fine Line Features 8X10 Photo. After all, no matter how badly the legal system failed Polanski, this didnt cancel out the fact that he raped a child. I will never again be able to speak to, or look at, Mike Nichols, Jonathan Demme, Martin Scorsese or any of the other names I recognize here without wanting to scream obscenities at them. Pierre Jolivet The director of The Grand Budapest Hotel and The Royal Tenenbaums recently premiered his latest effort, Isle of Dogs, at the Berlin Film Festival. Vinciane Lecocq Jerry Schatzberg Laurent Heynemann - le Fonds Culturel Franco Amricain Adrien Brody with Polanksi, during filming of The Pianist, 2002. Jerome Cornuau 13. Im so glad Roman has so many supporters that he can rape and sodomize, but are any of you 13 because thats target age we need. Get The Latest IndieWire Alerts And Newsletters Delivered Directly To Your Inbox. A petition demanding his release was signed by more than 100 actors and film-makers, including Emma Thompson (who later asked to have her name removed), Yasmina Reza and Tilda Swinton. Jacques Richard They want a circus of blood. The petition, made public in September 2009, demanded "the immediate release of Roman Polanski" after the Rosemary's Baby filmmaker was detained days earlier in Switzerland on a warrant for . So many people seem to be against Mr. Polanski. It seems inadmissible to them that an international cultural event, paying homage to one of the greatest contemporary filmmakers, is used by the police to apprehend him. Theres a kind of diabolical sexism, and I say that its diabolical because theres no one that we can actually accuse of being responsible for this sexism, he said. Grard Lenne Classic movies. I take responsibility for not thinking about it enough. By signing up to the Mashable newsletter you agree to receive electronic communications "It should just be that everyone can empathize with everyone. Sign up for our Email Newsletters here. Philippe Radault In 2018, Portman apologised and expressed regret for signing the petition. A pedophile. In perfect French she lauded the Franco-American friendship and recommended the development of cultural relations between our two countries. It was stupid To take a childhood from a person is the worst thing there is. After all, when he was told he was being arrested for rape he was genuinely shocked: I was incredulous; I couldnt equate what had happened the day before with rape in any form, he writes in his autobiography. Will you too?' Georges Dybman He didnt answer me when I said no Then he lifted up my legs farther and he went in through my anus..