Does Roman Polanski Deserve Jail?
Roman Polanski can’t seem to get a break. The notoriously intense film director, who made films such as Chinatown and The Pianist, was on his way to Switzerland last Saturday to receive a lifetime achievement award at the Zurich Film Festival, only to be nabbed by the authorities. Why? Well, it seems to be due to a very old yet still publicised incident in the US. Polanski famously fled Hollywood after he was accused of raping a 13-year old girl. He has yet to return. The arrest warrent is still out and despite having travelled to Switzerland many times before, someone decided to uphold the warrent and arrest him. Polanski now faces extradition to the US and he may even spend the rest of his life behind bars.
He is currently weighing up his legal options, but I ask: does he deserve to be imprisoned. Polanski has had a hard life. He survived the holocaust in Poland. And his pregnant wife Sharon Tate was murdered by the “Manson family” in 1969. And the recent documentary on Polanski’s rape case, Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired, not only criticises the legal methodology used against him, but also has his victim, Samantha Gailey (now 45) admit that his case should be dismissed. Yet, is it right to show the world that a man is above the law because he is famous/rich/had a tough life? Especially when the sex was not consensual and involved the director feeding the girl alcohol and sedatives? Is this karma finally catching up with Polanski? There is no easy answer, but feel free to add your two cents below.
Yes he should be jailed. He should also be neutered too. He is a rapist who has evaded the law for too long.
I think that your article is a little too sympathetic to Polanski.
Do you have love for less well known rapists or is it only high profile rapists that you have sympathy for?
Aww he has had a hard life? You need to check yourself before you wreck yourself.
You should not be allowed to comment on matters like these as you obviously know nothing.
He deserves a fair trial.
Rest of his life? Good luck. If he spends even a month in jail, unless it’s in protective custody, he’ll likely be painfully and messily murdered in jail once they find out his crime. It’s common knowledge that prison inmates, no matter what their crime, almost universally hate “child molesters”.
Andy I’m not sure why you think I’m going easy on Polanski- you don’t see any other movie blogs stating exactly what he did. Personally, I think he should be extradited, as I think he shouldn’t be above the law, but I wanted to throw both sides out there.
next movie: jail bird rock?
No probs Eoin. After re-reading your article I can see were you are coming from dude.
Rape is the most cowardly and cruelest of crimes. I cannot begin to fathom the effect that this has on a victim.
Sorry Eoin it is not you I am angry at, I am angry at that motherfucker Polanski.
Barbiturates and Alcohol,he knew what he was doing .
He deserves to drop the soap.