Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired

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Movie
German title Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired
Original title Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired
Country of production USA , UK
original language English , French , German
Publishing year 2008
length 99 minutes
Age rating FSK 12
Rod
Director Marina Zenovich
script Marina Zenovich,
Joe Bini ,
PG Morgan
production Marina Zenovich,
Jeffrey Levy-Hinte ,
Lila Yacoub,
PG Morgan,
Michelle Sullivan
music Mark De Gli Antoni
camera Tanja Koop
cut Joe Bini
occupation

Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired is an American- British documentary by Marina Zenovich about the background of a still open trial against the director Roman Polański in 1977 with the allegation of sexual offenses against a thirteen-year-old girl.

The film draws on numerous original comments from those involved in the proceedings such as alleged victim Samantha Gailey (now Geimer ), her lawyer Lawrence Silver , prosecutor Roger Gunson and Polański's defense attorney Douglas Dalton .

Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired was shown for the first time on May 20, 2008 in Cannes at the International Film Festival .

content

On March 11, 1977, forty-three- year-old Roman Polanski was arrested in Los Angeles on charges of having committed several sexual offenses against thirteen-year-old Samantha Gailey. The film documents the investigation, the proceedings, the great media hype, Polański's flight to Europe and the recall of the judge due to bias. Excerpts from Polański's films and material about his biography are interspersed.

The criminal process

The process that was initiated on the basis of the allegations is of central importance to the documentation. The following is a summary of key statements:

Polański was accused of raping a minor and other (sexual) crimes. He initially pleaded not guilty to all six charges. It was clear from the start that the process would attract a lot of public attention. The responsible judge Laurence J Rittenband received requests from all over the world for seats in the courtroom.

It was not customary at the time to publish the names of those affected, especially not of minors. The European gossip press, however, covered Samantha Gailey with pictures of her and details from her private life, which they believed meant that no one believed her. In order not to incriminate them further, their attorney Lawrence Silver sought an understanding in the criminal proceedings (English plea bargain ), which both the prosecutor Roger Gunson and Polański's defense attorney Douglas Dalton initially rejected.

Two weeks later agreed Dalton and it was agreed that Polanski to sexual material abuse (Engl. Unlawful sexual intercourse committed) guilty of what due to the age of the witness had a psychological examination of the defendant result, whether it is with him was a mentally disordered sex offender . Two psychologists denied this and, like the competent authority (English probation department ), recommended a suspended sentence.

Rittenband explained to the prosecutor and defense attorney that 90 days of psychiatric observation ( diagnostic study ) of Polańskis in the Chino State Prison - even though this could not be imposed as an actual punishment according to the law - should be part of the sentence and that they should keep silent about it . Then he would set a sentence based on the probation report . In addition, Polański got a delay in order to be able to make a film in Europe with Dino De Laurentiis as producer. He was photographed there during a visit to the Munich Oktoberfest and De Laurentiis had to testify that his stay in Europe was serious film work. Nevertheless, the judge ordered Polanski back to immediately begin his stay in the state prison.

He was released after 42 days, also with the recommendation that he be given a suspended sentence. Polański was of the opinion that, under the previous agreement, the case was closed. However, no sentence had yet been announced and Rittenband feared for his reputation as a judge due to media reports. He again submitted a proposal to the press, in silence for the prosecution and defense, according to which he would impose a prison sentence for the media, which would be lifted immediately after the hearing without public notice.

Dalton considered the judge's action to be illegal and explained to Polański that Rittenband was no longer trustworthy and that any appeal could be raised against any judgment, but that this would prolong the proceedings indefinitely. Prosecutor Gunson agreed to defense attorney Dalton that he would publish information about Rittenband's actions at any time. Polański went to De Laurentiis' office and fled to Europe.

The judge gave a press conference, which was completely unusual in an open case, and said he would convict Polanski in absentia. Dalton filed a bias motion and Gunson agreed to confirm Dalton's allegations if necessary. On February 24, 1978 the application was granted and Rittenband was dismissed from the case.

  1. ↑ Times given with a running time of 1:39:54
  2. ↑ 0:50:52
  3. ↑ 0:25:54
  4. ↑ 0:28:20
  5. ↑ 0:29:21
  6. ↑ 0:51:20
  7. ↑ 0:54:45
  8. ↑ 1:01:07
  9. ↑ 1:03:20
  10. ↑ 1:13:19
  11. ↑ 1:18:13
  12. ↑ 1:20:47
  13. ↑ 1:24:24
  14. ↑ 1:31:13

Awards

  • 2009: Emmy Awards - Outstanding Writing for Nonfiction Programming
  • 2008: Libertas Film Festival - Best Documentary Film
  • 2008: Sundance Film Festival - Documentary Film Editing Award

Trivia

Roman Polański was due to receive the award for his life's work on September 27, 2009 at the 5th Zurich Film Festival . Due to the arrest on his arrival at the airport the day before, the award ceremony was postponed indefinitely and this documentary was also shown. Because of the events, the film met with great interest from cinema operators, and Marina Zenovich flew to Zurich to shoot a sequel.

Polański attributed his arrest to the fact that the "judicial authorities in Los Angeles [...] felt attacked [by the documentary] and decided to request an extradition to Switzerland".

Quotes

“People have the right to their own opinions about what happened but they don't have the right to their own facts. The fact of Polanski leaving the country and so forth seems to have eclipsed the really important part of this case about what actually happened to the system of justice. I remain astounded after all these years. This case will never leave me. "

- Douglas Dalton, defense attorney, in Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired (documentary, 0:19:19).

Web links

Press comments on the film

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Awards at imdb.org
  2. ↑ Awards on the official website
  3. ^ Documentary about Polanski in Swiss cinemas , NZZ on Sunday, October 4, 2009.
  4. ↑ «I can no longer be silent». Roman Polanski speaks for the first time . In: Neue Zürcher Zeitung , May 3, 2010.