Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired
Marina Zenovich accomplishes an interesting thing with her 2008 documentary Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired when she unearths the fact that Douglas Dalton, Roger Gunson, and Samantha Gailey Geimer all agree that justice was not served. The documentary is talking about Polanski’s arrest and trial for unlawful sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old girl, of course. The piece assembles the case, driving right down the middle with no slant one way or the other, to enlighten the viewer as to the abuses of the justice system during the whole Polanski circus.
In Roman Polanski we have the ultimate tragic figure. Here is a man who lost his parents in the Holocaust and lost his wife and unborn child to the Manson Family. He was able to escape the war-torn streets of his native Poland only to land in the surreal world of Hollywood. Polanski got swept up in the fame, gave the world films like Rosemary’s Baby, married Sharon Tate, and so forth. He lived the high life and he liked his women young.
As Zenovich explains, Polanski’s tragic tale has many twists and turns. The incident with Samantha Gailey Geimer is explained, with the use of clippings and typed courtroom questions serving as backup. Polanski did indeed break the law and did indeed need to be punished for his crime, but what Zenovich compiles in her documentary is astounding rationale as to why the director might have fled in the first place and why that might have been the smartest move he could have made.
Gunson, straight-laced Mormon that he is, stands as the starkest witness against the judge of Polanski’s case, Laurence J. Rittenband. Rittenband was a judge so corrupt that he sought out fame at every angle he possibly could. We learn that he broke promises to both Gunson and Dalton, we learn that he staged fake courtroom sessions with Gunson and Dalton only to pass out the “real hearing” behind closed doors, we learn that he discussed cases with outsiders and even consulted a courtroom reporter in regards of sentencing Polanski.
Enter Gunson and his one incredibly telling remark: “I’m not surprised he left the country under those circumstances.” Zenovich audibly replies “really?” and Gunson affirms it. Gunson, the assistant D.A. constructing the case against Polanski, actually says that he understands why the defendant fled the country and the justice system. The presentation of this is staggering, but Zenovich does a nice job in the documentary with not letting it run away from itself. Instead, it’s just another piece in this massive case of justice left in the background by a lecherous judge.
Zenovich’s work with producing staggering admissions and constructing a summary of the Polanski case is good stuff. Those unfamiliar with the case would do well to see this documentary. While it is capable, it is also not overly interesting. Those with no interest in Polanski or the case will find little here beyond a sort of Law and Order style corruption case. The evidence unearthed is compelling and some of the file footage of Polanski and others is interesting, but this is certainly not edge-of-your-seat stuff.
Sadly there are no current interviews with Polanski himself and I couldn’t help but hope for a final moment of revelation where the director stepped foot in front of the cameras and spoke to Zenovich. No such luck. Regardless, this little documentary does its job and then some in its exposure of a corrupt judge and the way the justice system failed all parties involved, including Samantha Gailey Geimer.
Trailer:
Regardless of losing his parents and later his wife and unborn baby, Polanski is a violent child predator and he left the U.S. because he knew he was guilty of brutally raping a 13 year old up the rectum. This film, like a radical would do, depicts the guilty as the victim and the victim is the one who provoked the rape. Perhaps the child ‘wanted’ it? Perhaps Polanski left for Europe because, like Micheal Jackson, another ‘Innocent’ guilty bastard, he knew it was easier to ‘screw children.’ Polanski raped the girl in every way a sick man would. It is almost certain he has raped more children between the year of 1977 and 2009, as child molesters never stop until they are Incarcerated. He has victims in Europe and he should be in prison for each year he was out of the United States since 1977. I hope more victims will be brave and come forward. It is time for Polinski to DO TIME IN PRISON. May he be raped like he rapes others. Jack Nicholson probably had a thing in the rape. He probably watched.
A few factual clarifications:
1. This film does not depict the guilty as the victim.
2. There is no evidence to suggest that, as you claim, it is “almost certain he has raped more children between the year of 1977 and 2009.”
3. There is no proof that he has “victims in Europe.”
4. There is no proof that Jack Nicholson was involved in any way, shape or form.
5. Your comments regarding Europe as being a place where it is easier to “screw children” are deeply offensive.
Sharon, I try to keep things civil here. This is a film blog and I enjoy writing movie reviews and discussing the aspects of cinema. I do not politicize, nor do I take sides on this blog. This is not the place to hang or support Polanski, but you have stated things are not factually accurate and you have done so in a rude, vile fashion.
I am leaving your comment up because I feel it is an interesting testimony to the ways in which we spew vitriol in any avenue so long as it suits our purposes, but I will not further engage you or anyone else who comes here to discuss Polanski in any context besides film.
I hope you can appreciate that.