Like the rest of the world, I have been watching the Roman Polanski extradition story since it broke. Ironically arrested in what is known to be "neutral territory," Switzerland, Polanski was arrested for fleeing the country to avoid final sentencing. He is not technically being held for child rape - even though this is the crime he committed 32 years ago, to then 13 year old Samantha Geimer. (although victim names are now withheld from the media, this was not the case in 1977, additionally Ms. Geimer has publicly spoken about this case on a few occasions.)
Those in favor of extradition seem to be vehemently in favor because of the rape. And although 32 years have gone by - make no mistake about it - it was rape. A heinous and lascivious act done to a child. The problem is - Polanski payed his "debt to society" for that crime.
Was it enough time - in my opinion, NO, but that's not the point. The point is he served his time for that case - and however repulsive he is as a human being, no matter how grotesque his actions were - we should not judge this case by those circumstances.
Now to fleeing the country. Yes he did it and yes it is punishable by law. According to the news, Polanski had entered into a plea bargain where he plead guilty to the crime in exchange for time served. This means that he should have been a free man.
But the trial was a circus with a judge who allegedly cared more about the limelight than serving justice. Polanski was allegedly tipped off that the judge was going to revoke the plea and convict him with a much steeper sentence. And so he fled.
Was it fair. No.
Was it just. No.
Was it right. No.
But it seems as though nothing in this trial is any of those things. As with any celebrity trial - the public interest is exaggerated and the media coverage is ubiquitous. Should Roman Polanski be vilified - for the rape - yes - for the evasion - i just don't know.
What bothers me the most is what this does to the true victim here, Samantha Geimer. She was 13 when she was violated by Mr. Polanski, but that was one night - this has gone on for 32 years. Regardless of why Polanski is in the press (Oscar nomination or extradition case), each time he is, so are all the sordid details about the rape. You can even read the entire original grand jury testimony on The Smoking Gun if you are interested - i did.
Ms. Geimer is now a 45 year-old mother that would like nothing more than to forget the past - but we just won't let her. Everytime the story comes up, the paparazzi come out. On the few occasions that she has publicly spoken about the case, she asked us to let this just go away, she has condemned the action and not the man, and she has even spoken in defense of allowing him to accept an Oscar for his award-winning film "The Pianist" in person. She has also discussed the damage this constant "story" has done to her and her family. But just like when she told Polanski "No" on that fateful night in 1977, no one is listening.
Everyone of us who continues to show interest in a case that should no longer be interesting is culpable in her violation. Even with this blog - i just did it again.
There's just too much here that is too titillating for us to let it go. It could be the pitch for the kind of movie Polanski might even direct, i can hear it now.
"Ok - picture this. He's a former Jewish refugee of Nazi occupied Poland, whose mother died in a concentration camp. After the war he studies film and becomes a ground breaking director. After curbing his playboy ways he settles down with an actress (Sharon Tate). She is pregnant with their child when she is viciously murdered in their home along with a couple of other people by a well known mass-murder (Charles Manson) and his cult "family" in a murder spree that grips the nation. He continues to direct films and later is found guilty of the statutory rape of a 13-year old girl, which by the way, just to up the ante, takes place at the home of a very famous actor (Jack Nicholson) and his girlfriend who is also an actress (Anjelica Huston). To add to the story the actress is a potential witness (not to the actual act, but to the protagonist being in her boyfriends house with the girl at the time of the rape.) After fleeing the country to France he continues to work and almost 30 years later accepts the Oscar for Directing a movie that touches on his youth growing up as a refugee during the war. So he's a hero right?"
Suddenly it's not a crime, it's entertainment.
And unfortunately, we are all watching.
