Tuesday Newsday – Roman Polanski Arrested

By on September 29, 2009 in Culture, Tuesday Newsday

On March 10, 1977, a 43 year old Roman Polanski photographed a young model for a French magazine. After the shoot, they ended up in Jack Nicholson’s hot tub, where they got stoned on Quaaludes, and eventually had sex. The girl, Samantha Gailey, was just 13 years old.

Sadly, this was not the first time that Polanski was caught in the public eye for events other than his work in the movie industry.  As I wrote about last month, his pregnant wife was murdered just a few years earlier by the followers of Charles Manson. Strangely enough, after the hot tub incident in 1977, he fled to Europe to avoid jail time associated with the crimes committed against Samantha.

That was over 30 years ago. Since then, Polanski has continued to make films. He even helped make the career of the actor Adrian Brody, whom he directed in the 2002 film “The Pianist“. Yes, THAT Roman Polanski, who won an Academy Award for the film. We’re not talking about a small time director, hiding in his basement somewhere. We are talking about one of the top 20 directors in the world today.

On Saturday, September 26, 2009, he was finally arrested by Swiss authorities on his way to the Zurich Film Festival to receive a lifetime achievement award.

Now, how you feel about this story will vary wildly based on a lot of things. If you are a film student, or a film maker of any ilk, you may be saddened or outraged at this news of a peaceful man who has given so much to the world and deserves to be pardoned for crimes that happened so long ago.

If you are a parent of a girl around the age of 13, you may be cheering the news of a pervert and predator who was finally served the justice that was long overdue.

If you are neither, perhaps imagining a 13 year old girl that you know and a 43 year old man that you know in a hot tub together will help to distill your feelings. American culture frowns on sexual relationships between adults and minors. But there are many cultures in the world that do not. So, in that case, is this a moral issue or a cultural one?

When I read Samantha’s account of that night on CNN.com, where she repeatedly asked Polanski to stop, and had to fake an asthma attack to make that happen, I sense my desire for justice swelling. Shouldn’t a man in his 40s understand the wrongness in such a blatant violation of someone else’s will, let alone her body?  What could there be to excuse his behavior?  How can there be justice for this act that took advantage of one of society’s less protected?

Well, according to Samantha, justice has already been served. Or at least, according to the same CNN article, she has long since forgiven him.

What?!?!?!?

Samantha is now 45 years old and has put the matter far behind her. In fact, she seems much more upset about the judicial system and media scrutiny that followed the crime, than the crime itself:

“He’s just a stranger to me. I met him twice, three times. … His life really has nothing to do with my life.”

and

“Looking back, there can be no question that he did something awful. It was a terrible thing to do to a young girl,” she wrote in her Los Angeles Times piece. “And honestly, the publicity surrounding it was so traumatic that what he did to me seemed to pale in comparison.”

So, is justice something that a society always needs to enforce in an effort to protect the vulnerable? Or is this just the case when the wronged seek out such assistance from society? If judgement is not meted out by Polansky’s human peers, is there a cosmic judgement by God that is being felt or will be felt in the future? Either way, should society respect the wishes of the victim to drop the charges in this case? Or was this a type of crime against society that needs to be met with a clear resolution of intolerance?

I wish I knew the answer, but it does have me thinking.

A group of his Hollywood peers seems to think that he should be released immediately, if not pardoned. I wonder how I would feel about this case if the victim or the perpetrator were a friend of mine.

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  • Jill Anderson

    “eventually had sex.”

    They did not have sex. He drugged her and she said no then forced himself on her. That is called rape.

    Polanski is a sick rapist and should rot in jail.

  • http://johnrj08.wordpress.com/ JohnRJ08

    Polanski’s case was handled like many other such cases. It was the court’s responsibility to determine if he was a sexual predator and likely to commit the same offense again. It was for that reason that Polanski was twice sent to Chino for an intense psychological evaluation. In both of those of instances, the therapists concluded that Polanski was not a predator and they recommended against a prison term. In his plea bargain, which the prosecutor recommended, Polanski was to be put on probation and released. Then, when the prosecutor learned that the judge was going to renege on this plea bargain for reasons which had nothing to do with the recommendations from Chino, he alerted Polanski’s attorney. Fearing that he would be sent to jail for more than a decade after the judge had agreed to the plea bargain, Polanski decided to flee the country. Polanski always took responsibility for what he did and pleaded guilty in court. What he didn’t expect was a rogue judge who was being influenced by an eager prosecutor who had not even been involved in the case.

    Roman Polanski did a despicable act that night, and he knows it. The man was clearly suffering from the psychological trauma of the brutal murder of his wife, Sharon Tate, and his judgment was grossly impaired. This is not an excuse, but it does explain why this behavior suddenly emerged from out of now where in a man who had never been involved in any similar incidents. That is why the therapists at Chino recommended probation. As terrible as his act was, Polanski was NOT a sexual predator.

  • http://www.zacparsons.com Zac

    Wow. Two very interesting and different comments about this story.

    @Jill – I do see your point in calling out the difference between sex and rape. Thank you for bringing that to my attention.

    @John – It’s obvious that you are familiar with this case and I appreciate your added details. It certainly is a messy case. With the French and Polish governments pressuring Switzerland to not extradite him to the U.S., there is a lot more to play out in the coming days and weeks.

  • Dake

    “As terrible as his act was, Polanski was NOT a sexual predator.”

    Just a rapist.

  • Joe

    There is NO excuse…he drugged her and raped her, he raped her in the ASS, A grown Man, RAPED A CHILD. I don’t give a crap if he is famous or if the little girl in her has forgiven her..to say that she is over this is a LIE. She most likly has a mental block to most of that horrible incident and is hiding in denial. This man should have the full force of the LAW come down on his head with no Mercy. He is a coward and is hiding behind his fame. A monster is a monster!!

  • charlie

    Regardless of anything else he has accomplished in his life and whatever troubles he was going through he still had sex with a 13 year old girl. Nothing Changes that FACT. He then fled back to France knowing that they would not send him back. So not only did he have sex with a 13 year old but he ran away as soon as he realized it wasn’t going well for him. Those are two very serious CRIMES! It doesn’t matter if the 13 year old girl he drugged and had sex with requests dismissal of the case either, he still did it. Thats like saying i could rape and try to kill a girl but if later she forgives me and says that its all good that i would be free.

    Common sense people…
    These are the FACTS:

    Roman Polanski Drugged and Raped a 13 year old Girl

    Roman Polanski Fled to a different country after the Rape

    Time Passed does not forgive a CRIME.

    They have been Jailing NAZIs who murdered Jews in Concentration camps long after the crimes. This isn’t murder but it doesn’t change what happened.

    Wake UP he deserves to be sentanced like he should have in the 70′s and the ruling should be amplified due to the fleeing.

    charlie

  • http://www.zacparsons.com Zac

    @Joe – I value mercy highly. I disagree with a call for “no mercy”. However, I do value honesty. His decision to flee the country troubles me. There is a fine line between mistrusting the judicial system and fearing social punishment for one’s actions.

  • http://www.zacparsons.com Zac

    @Charlie – It seems like you see this more as a crime against society and that society has a right to demand justice on its own behalf. Do you have any sense of cosmic/divine justice in this case? I would be interested in more of your thoughts on freedom from judgement.

  • alex

    Why aren’t the priest who raped so many being dragged through the media like this guy?? They admitted to their crimes, but…….nothing after that. America needs to either treat everyone the same or shut up about all.

  • shadysider

    You know what hurt the most? The lack of respect. That’s what hurts the most…except for the other thing, that what hurts the most. But the lack of respect hurts the second most.
    /Dirty Work’d

  • Matt VT

    man, lot of opinions… this is something that’s bothered me for years, and I’m glad that it’s back in the news again…

    I took a number of film classes back in the day and had to study many of the filmmakers of the 60′s and 70′s. I had always known Polanski’s name in association with “Rosemary’s Baby”, and at the time “The Pianist” was winning every award they could give it, but I never knew what he had been part of.

    What always bothered me was how forgiving everyone in Hollywood was towards this guy. It’s takes a pretty messed up person to drug and rape a 25 year old chick… It takes an unbelievably messed up lunatic to do that to a 13 year old CHILD… And if he had stuck around and done his time for the crime he pleaded guilty to then maybe you could begin to forgive this guy but he refused to face what he did like a man.

    I do feel sorry for the victim having to go through this again but at this point it’s not really about her, it’s about Polanski being a fugitive whose refused to go to any country where he thought he might get caught for over 30 years… looks like he screwed up…

    Even if he never has to spend a day in prison I’m glad this happened so that people are aware of what this man is really made of.

    Martin Scorcese, Woody Allen, Tilda Swinton and others have been demanding he be immediately released from jail… this is one BS thing to take a stand on… I hope there is the angry backlash towards Polanski supporters like there was for Mike Vick supporters… I know which one I’d let in my home first…

  • Todd B.

    Here are a few reflections on the matter of the Hollywood peers appeal to pardon and immediately release… for what it is worth…
    Regardless of what is acceptable in other cultures, you are responsible to live within the covenant of the culture YOU live in. Polanski deliberately crossed boundaries. In fact, he is one of a handful of people wealthy enough to live wherever he chooses. But he didn’t, he lived here, exploited the system to his own benefit and then showed disregard for what we the people determined as the proper code of conduct. He surely didn’t write the rules, but he knew what they were and the consequences for breaking them. He knew he wasn’t just offending this young lady, He was offending the system the makes us accountable to one another for our behaviors. He does have a responsibility to account for his actions beyond the violation committed on the young lady. This is a matter that seems important to address regardless of the time passed or the merits of his accomplishments.

    My second thought has to do with the fact that he fled while on bail, prior to the gavel passing judgment. He, again, violated the rules of the game. This is no longer a matter of justice for the transgressed lady, it is about fulfilling the mandates of the law. Do not let the passing of time sentimentally cloud your judgment. Roman is not Jean Val Jean. (remember Les Miserables?) Val Jean paid his debt, but the law pursued him long after the fact, not allowing him to put his transgressions behind him. Polanksi has yet to face judgment. No judgment, no opportunity to assess a fair payment for the crime. No opportunity to commute sentences. No opportunity to reflect and measure the weight and substance of the offense. No place for grace either.

    Let him serve time, let him off or let him give the lady money for pain incurred. Do whatever seems fair, but let the decision rest in the hand on the one who holds the gavel – the one entrusted to interpret and measure the matters in the face of our offenses. It is the price of enjoying life in civilized society. It is the mutual agreement we all have entered into. There were two crimes committed here. He needs to account for both.

  • Janis

    Absolutely disgusting! Of course he should be tried & convicted of his crime. He should also get more years on his sentence for disappearing for the last 3 decades. Now it’s time to pay the piper! Justice will finally previal over evil !!
    Justice for all.

  • Ric

    Hey…it was just a 13 year old girl who wanted it, man. Someday I hope those of you who advocate on Polansky’s behalf get to experience the same thing. I want you to have a little girl. Someone you cherish, someone who grows up and at 13, starts to fill in. You know…looking hot! Then your good buddy comes around one night when you’re passed out from too much booze and drugs. He and your ‘little girl’ get in your hot tub, she rubs his leg, he rubs her crotch..she ‘likes it’ and she gives him {edited}. Then he {edited} the living {edited} out of her. She doesn’t like it so much, tells you about it. You freak out, or hey…maybe it turns you on. Who knows? Anyhow…I would say this would be poetic justice. How about it? Anyone have a little girl and a hot tub?

  • Ric

    You sick Hollywood {edited}. Zak, if you don’t “know the answer” you’re mama didn’t raise you proper and that, sir, is a direct reflection on what a poor job your she did on teaching you values. You must have been raised by Hollywood.
    What about a grown man and forced sex with a 13 year old is it that befuddles you? Why do you wrestle with this issue? The fact that you do speaks volumes about how {edited} up you truly are. Justify it any way you like, mere hesitation in condemnation reveals the rudderless moral compass in yours and others who hesitate in their condemnation of Polansky. Making excuses because the girl “didn’t look 13″ as Angelica Houston said..pathetic, justifying his actions because of conjecture of what someone said a judge would have done. Look at yourself in the mirror. Look at your daughters, your sisters, your nieces, whatever. Is this how you treat 13 year old rape victims? Is this how you treat rape victims of celebrities? It’s a rhetorical question, because we all know the answer is yes. Yes, you do. You first and foremost minimize the ‘crime’, then you demonize the true victim, and victimize the true demon. And you aren’t certain what to think. You’re amazing.

  • STFU

    alex, dumby. Not only did the media “crucify” those, pun intended. Some did time, the Catholic church paid millions, rightfully so, and the scandal rocked their world, rightfully so. I mean, hey, stupid. Where the hell did you hear about it? Not here, right? You heard about it on the very media you speak of, so stupid….the media did their job. and the courts did, as well. Hey, stupid….something else. many of those bastards were forced out of the church. In fact, it was the media’s dogged stories that finally shed the light of day on the scandals to the point the men in long pointed hats had to do something about it other then stick their {edited} in little boys butts. Man, you’re stupid.

  • STFU

    alex, and if you’re one of them….we will treat you the same. Now, is there something you want to confess to? hmmmmm?

  • Stephanie

    What an interesting question. Is it still a crime if the victim forgives? Well, yes, of course. If it wasn’t prosecutable after forgiven then sexual deviants would be raiding the insane assylums. (not really, but you get the idea) Or just keep the kid long enough and be nice enough that they develop Stockholm syndrome and you’re home free. It is still a crime and is punishable by law. Unfortunately in this case he was given more press coverage than other lower profile people’s crimes, however, if he were doing something good he would also be given more press coverage than others doing the same. Media is a harsh mistress and can’t be contained (well, it can, but we’ll save that discussion for another day!)

  • hizacaroo

    What are bees that make milk instead of honey called?

    boo-bees.

    Your welcome.

  • http://www.zacparsons.com Zac

    @Matt VT – Good thoughts. It is fascinating how criminal cases involving celebrities can feel more real or less real, depending on who you talk to. I read John’s comments above and wonder about the justice of our judicial system all over again. Often it is one man or one woman who decides someone’s punishment or incarceration time. How that person leans probably has a lot to do with how the judgement is meted out. Will society’s thirst for justice be satisfied with the ruling of a lenient judge? Or do we all just decide justice in our own minds?

    @Todd B – Very well articulated. As someone who made millions of dollars off of the acceptance of his fellow man (with his art), Polansky doesn’t want to face the other side of the coin and be tried by a jury of his peers. This is sad because his economic situation actually gives him a greater advantage over most defendants in need of an attorney.

    @Janis – If you wish for him to be tried and convicted, then you really don’t wish for him to be tried. Right?

    @Ric – I apologize for misleading you with my wording or my phrasing. My question was in terms of what should be done in light of forgiveness from the accuser. Is this a crime against society? And by the way, I was raised in a conservative Christian home in a conservative mostly-Mormon community in Arizona. It is relatively close to Hollywood, I guess. ;)

  • http://www.zacparsons.com Zac

    @Stephanie – Thanks for the comment. I guess some of my personal lack of bloodlust for justice in this case stems from my question of: “Who benefits from his punishment?” If the answer is society, then that is the answer. But if the victim states a sincere acceptance and forgiveness of the criminal, regardless of society’s judgement, don’t we disrespect her in some way by saying that a price still must be paid? Or is she disrespecting society by being to graceful with someone who violated our laws and agreements?

  • clr

    How about just putting Polanski into the general population while he is waiting for trial, and let the real men take care of the punishment. This whole Hollywood elitist cr*p is outrageous. The guy plead GUILTY, and then escaped and ran. Book Him, Lock HIM UP…. and don’t protect him from the perverts that want to prey on him!

    And if we don’t want to put the poor lady through the triall.. we shouldn’t have to. The PEOPLE are the victims of his escape – not the rape victim. Try him on that… after he sits in the general population for awhile.

    As for the French – what do you expect from them. They have always been worthless – we should never have saved them in WWI and WWII. And Poland just confirmed why we are justified in removing the missle shiels for that Country.

  • Stephanie

    We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, ensure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence,[1] promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

    This, as you know, is the preamble to the Constitution of the United States of America. Things that stick out to me in this case are:
    Establish Justice
    Ensure domestic Tranquility
    (well, really all of it)
    The promise of justice controls, more or less, the conduct of all civilized people. If there were no promise of justice- ie: “if you do something bad, we may want to talk to you about it a little” or “We know you did that, but it was a year ago, so, oh well”
    The other is that we want to ensure domestic tranquility. How tranquil do you think your life would be if at any moment someone could attack you with no fear of retribution? I’ll tell you one thing- the NRA would be a heck of a lot more popular. The people of the united states- us- we formed the government and the laws and who is this one man to receive a get out of jail free card?
    His trial is not only for the benefit of society, but also for his benefit. He knew what he was doing when he did it and he knew what the consequence would be. For rehabilitation there needs to be penance. It has nothing to do with the victim anymore. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. There is choice and there is accountability.

  • Melanie

    You should be acting as a advocate for young victims not showing them how to allow justice NOT to be done. I know it is hard to live with the attention but I myself am a survivor and if any of my pain could help another young girl then so be it and being on the pain!

  • http://www.zacparsons.com Zac

    @Stephanie – Good points again. The only thing that I would question would be regarding your statement that “the promise of justice controls, more or less, the conduct of all civilized people” and your statement later about Polansky knowing what he did was wrong and what the consequence would be. Is this implying that he is not “civilized” or educated in whatever way you meant by that? Since it did not prevent his actions, why do you expect it to prevent actions by others? Do you yourself not rape people because of the punishment you would receive? I hope you can tell that my questions are serious. I mean no disrespect or sarcasm.

  • http://www.zacparsons.com Zac

    @Melanie – Thank you for your comment. I am sad for your pain, but glad that you want to reclaim that pain and turn it into education or support for others. I believe that educating everyone as to the pain involved in such a situation would help to better understand it all.

  • Stephanie

    this is why I added more or less. ha ha- It means that he has been conditioned to think that he can get away with doing it- as you have obviously been. ;) There are two types of people: those whom justice frightens and those whom justice comforts. You can change which group you belong to, but the important thing is that justice is what keeps our society moving. This is how justice (or lack of it) controls more or less the conduct of humanity- either you live in fear or you dont. It’s up to us which group will live in fear. I’d rather it be the criminals, wouldn’t you?

  • http://www.zacparsons.com Zac

    @Stephanie – Interesting…. I might change your point to be: Fear and comfort are two ways that people are motivated by justice. Would you agree that education would (eventually) help everyone to value justice and be comforted by it? Or do you believe that some people will never get it and will always need fear as a motivator? Thanks again for the comments!

  • Stephanie

    Zac, I think it’s not so much traditional education that would change this. I think it’s more the teaching children receive in the home. Morals and decency and service. I think the break down of the family and morals are at the heart of this debate (yet not mentioned until now) It is a sad day when fear of the law is the motivator for decency and that is where we are now. I’m sad that we are no longer shocked to hear that something like rape or theivery has happened. Now we expect it. I don’t know if that will ever change, Zac. I think the ways of the past are gone down the stinker. However, we can change this on an individual basis. I heard a talk this weekend; a story was told where every night at dinner (in the times families had dinner together) the father would ask each child what they had done for someone else that day. It’s situations like these that we need to provide for our children. Start at home (not to rip off HGTV’s logo he he)

  • http://www.zacparsons.com Zac

    @Stephanie – I could not agree with you more. That is what I meant to say with the word “education”. That’s not to say that educated people from healthy families aren’t capable of making huge mistakes in spite of how they were raised. Whether the ways of the past are gone or not, we can change on an individual basis. And groups can be changed by a strong individual. I think it is a battle worth fighting.

    I’m sure HGTV is glad for your plug! Thanks again for your comments!

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  • Tpos

    It’s weird how when you learn something new, you then start to come across it everywhere!
    I learnt about Charlie Manson just this week and I have to write a report on him, his “family” and the murders for homework!

    And Polanski directed ‘the pianist’?! Wow! That was a great film!

    Famous people seem to get quite messed up though…

    I think, despite the girl/woman forgiving him, he should be punished to ensure he doesn’t do it to anyone else. Well he could still do it again but you know he just deserves the punishment and it might stop him reoffending.

  • Anonymous

    It is interesting that your mind tends to gravitate and “notice” things that you have been pondering lately. There’s a part of your brain known as the “reticular activating system” that regulates this for us. It’s kind of cool to learn about.

    Do you think that punishment is a good form of deterrent? Why is it that you don’t go around raping/murdering people? Is it because of the punishment that you would receive? Or because of the way that you value human life and human choice?

  • Tpos

    The brain is pretty cool!

    I don’t think punishment is always a good deterrent but I’m not sure what else could be done with such people :S Unless you want to do some brain surgery on them (joke)

    haha, well I’m still an innocent little girl who thinks ‘yuck!’ at the thought of sex :$I don’t think the thought of punishment would stop anyone committing the act as their desire is obviously too strong to worry about that. They’ve turned animalistic.

    I’ve just gone against what I said about punishment having some effect. Well it might influence them if they already have gone through it. But, yeah, if you turn animalistic there’s little to stop you doing such things, imo.

    Yes, the value of human life, should have a big impact on a person who considers such a thing.

  • Tpos

    From a religious perspective, Islam gives the option for both justice and forgiveness but forgiveness is given a higher ‘status’. Also it’s hard to take true justice and it can very easily turn into revenge, which is wrong. So forgiveness is the recommended action in such cases. And divine justice will be given one day.

    A person who has committed a sin against another will not be forgiven by God until the wronged person has forgiven the perpetrator. 

  • Anonymous

    There are some interesting debate regarding the effects of deterrent punishments out there. For the most part, they don’t do an effective job of lowering rates of crime, except when minor offenses are punished severely. In those cases, crime is lowered substantially. But with “crimes of passion”, deterrent seems to go right out the window.

    The fascinating aspect of this case is that the “victim” doesn’t seek any punishment for Polanski. To me, this means that she believes that he has already been punished enough for his crimes, that he didn’t commit the crimes in the first place, or that she is just wanting it to all go away and is doing what she can to make that happen.

    In my view, we shouldn’t punish a single person to make an example of them for the sake of others. If rehabilitation is possible, it should be pursued with vigor.

  • Tpos

    Hmm I take what I said back, since it doesn’t make sense. As I have mentioned in Islam if someone is forgiven then they are let off the hook – and as you have said the victim doesn’t want him to be ‘punished’ so he should be left alone.

    But what I said about him being punished despite being forgiven wasn’t so he would be an example but because he would be kept away from others so wouldn’t be able to commit the crime again. But since it’s not a great deterrent anyway, I guess there’d be no point in that either (if I hadn’t gone back on my word)

  • Anonymous

    I see. Your ultimate goal is that the crime doesn’t happen again, so you are more for rehabilitation than punishment. I can get on board with that.