Roman Polanski - Holocaust Survivor, Spouse of Murder Victim, Great Filmmaker, Child Rapist.

[Withywindle]

My feelings are mixed and intense. I want that bastard to face justice. But I also feel certain mitigating factors.


My ideal outcome? That he would be sent back here, stand trial, serve a token sentence--and **really** come to terms with what he did. To the point where he could apply his considerable talents to make a film about rape and what it does to people with the same intensity, sympathy, honesty, and REALITY he brought to "The Pianist."

That might actually have the potential to help people. Just like I think anti-Semites, neo-Nazis, and Holocaust deniers should be forced to watch "The Pianist" with their eyelids pinned open, Clockwork Orange-style, I want Polanski to get to a point where he can make his swan song the film that would be equally potent medicine against rapists, misogynists, child abusers, sexual harrassers, and rape apologists.

I know he has the technical talent. But does he have the force of SOUL? That should be his true test, IMO - and it should also appeal to those who want to defend him on basis of his "greatness."

[scrinmaster]

1. Or he could just do his time in jail, like any other person who raped a child and fled the country.

[Withywindle]

3. Frankly, most people who rape children don't have the capacity to make lasting art.

I want one of the few who do to make a piece of art that will long outlive him saying, "Raping children (or anyone) is evil; here's why." In terms anyone can relate to.

I mean, we know Nazis were evil. Doesn't mean every film that's made about it won't contribute to future generation's understanding.

Hey, "community service" is a common aspect of a sentence. Often, it's related to the crime. I don't think he should be around children or women as part of his "service" but he could certainly still have a role to play. IF the implications of crime truly sink in--which is a huge IF, I know. I don't believe most criminals ever really feel the human impact of what they did. I'm just saying, if he ever did, it could be a force for good, because he obviously has skills.

[provis99]

14. John Wayne Gacy was a pretty good artist.

Got any nice thoughts about that serial killer rapist, too?

[marshall]

25. Haven't there been public art showings of Hitler's paintings?

They aren't masterpieces, but they aren't bad.

[anonymous171]

2. My ideal solution: He dies in jail.

[Withywindle]

4. I'd be OK with that too.

Not my first choice, but not my last either.

[Colobo]

32. Don't forget "after years of great suffering".

[Hoopla Phil]

5. I'm curious about something.

Please do not misunderstand me, I've held off a long time on asking this do to the probability of being misunderstood. What this guy did was horrific and unforgivable no matter the circumstance and he deserves whatever punishment is doled out to him. I am curious though. . .

This would be a crime of a serial nature. A pedophile is driven by his sick desires and cannot stop. He lashed out on this 13 year old and had hes way with her for a full night. Why has this not been a re-occurring problem? It does not fit. The victim has stayed true to the allegations and the pedophile had not denied them so what gives? Was this possibly some sort of drug induced event? Was Polanski not aware the he was with a 13 year old and thinking he was with someone else? I just do not understand why this has not been a re-occurring issue.

[Liberty Belle]

6. How do we know it hasn't?

He's been living overseas. And perhaps he became more careful or like Michael Jackson is alleged to have done, simply paid off parents willing to prostitute children. Not saying he did, but it's possible.

[Withywindle]

7. It's a recurring issue because he fled from justice.

He also had a sexual relationship with 15-year-old Nastassja Kinski in France. I don't know the details of that: she may have consented (15 is the AoC in France).

It's not "pedophilia," technically, because his victim was physically developed and did not look like a child. It is rape, though, twice over, because (1) she was 13, and 13-year-olds cannot legally consent in that state at that time, and (2) SHE KEPT SAYING 'NO." It would have been rape even if she were 30.

He claimed he thought she was older. That's irrelevant, though. It's the adult's responsibility to make sure everything's actually, truly kosher before he sticks his dick in a girl. (And if she's saying NO he shouldn't do it at all).

[maglatinavi]

13. Polanski

In the transcript of interview with the victim by police it is quoted that she tells him that she is 'not on the pill'... what kind of 'innocent child' is on the pill???

[marshall]

23. That must be why he raped her anally

No need to worry about the pill.

[TorchTheWitch]

20. he testified in court that he knew she was 13 at the time of the incident

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2009/0928091polanskiplea1.html

MR. GUNSON: On March 10th, 1977, the day you had sexual intercourse with the complaining witness, how old did you believe her to be?

(Pause in the proceedings while a discussion off the record ensued at the counsel table between the defendant and his counsel.)

THE DEFENDANT: She was 13.

MR. GUNSON: Did you understand that she was 13 on March 10th, 1977, when you had sexual intercourse with her?

(Pause in the proceedings while a discussion off the record ensued at the counsel table between the defendant and his counsel.)

THE DEFENDANT: Yes.

[paulsby]

11. not to get all DSM and stuff but...

the fact that polanski raped a 13 yr old does NOT mean he is a pedophile. leaving aside the whole issue of was she prepubescent or not (i have no idea), the fact that he raped this girl does not necessarily mean he is a pedophile

it's similar to the analogy that a guy who is caught drunk driving is not necessarily an alcoholic.

[Colobo]

29. He's just a dirty POS. I take a crap on every one of his movies.

[paulsby]

45. you get 100% agreement from me on that

i am fully for him spending time in jail, and i've been talkin' smack about polanski for years.

[TorchTheWitch]

19. it probably has been a reoccurring issue

and he just didn't get caught. There are not a lot of young girls willing to accuse a celebrity. What the victim in the case described is a CLASSIC MO of a serial offender. He knew he was with a 13 year old and testified to that in court. A mere 2 years after he raped this girl he had an "affair" with a 15 year old Nastassja Kinski... another young teenage girl with an absent father and a mother that didn't protect her vulnerability in a very exploitive industry.

[thelordofhell]

8. You forgot one more.......fugitive from justice

He was convicted of a crime and fled before sentencing. I don't give a damn what he was convicted of, he became a fugitive when he ran. Case closed.

[Withywindle]

9. OK, point taken.

There's only so much that'll fit in the header. I agree, that's a massive wrong in itself.

[The_Casual_Observer]

10. The guy got wrapped up with an old school free love nymph

Things are all together different now. Admit it & forget the whole fucking thing.

[Ghost Dog]

12. Well said.

(I was 13 in 1967).

I've a feeling adolescents are much more (but mentally, socially, educationally & medically) abused these days.

Be afraid.

[anonymous171]

15. lol the "everyone was doing it" bullshit won't fly in court.

[cali]

17. huh? because she'd had sex twice before, the child was a "free love nymph"?

the old the child was being seductive chestnut.

[GMA]

18. forget it

Wow. Seriously? Forget it because she was a nymph and it was a time of free love. That's just sick.

[The_Casual_Observer]

21. Even the god damn nymph didn't care at the time or ever. The only

people pressing this shit are a misguided do-gooders and small time career city shitass DA's with apparently nothing better to do.

[Colobo]

31. According to her testimony, she was raped.

And even if she wasn't, she was 13. An old man giving drugs and then sexually abusing a child is a fucking serious thing.

[seabeyond]

28. he. fuckin. raped.... no stop it, NO.........her. no nymph bullshit. rape. nt

[Withywindle]

42. "Free love nymph" WTF?

Is this some old skool euphemism for "child who's been raped" that I missed?

[cherokeeprogressive]

16. NO ONE comes to "terms" with what they did after serving a "token" sentence.

Why bother at all?

So he gets a "token" sentence, and then is welcomed with open arms by Hollywood.

I'll buy that for a dollar!

[seabeyond]

22. everyone wants to fuck young girls, .... he said a couple years after. no, no

no mixed feelings.

a 13 yr old girl, in a stage house, alone. fearful. afraid. saying no, stop. stop. take me home. no stop it, take me home

and then crying

nope

[vadawg]

24. i think CHILD RAPIST should be enough of a description.

[BlooInBloo]

26. I think great athletes and great musicians who rape should also be included.

Oh - wait - they're different somehow.

[seabeyond]

27. fuck... it is biology anyway. we know it. let all men rape. wooosh

doesnt that just make it all so much easier. now no mixed emotions to deal with

[BlooInBloo]

30. WOOT! Now.... if only I knew where to get a hold of some quaaludes.

[Forkboy]

33. Says the one who defends an athlete who tortures animals.

[BlooInBloo]

34. Indeed. Because a guy who served his sentence for animal cruelty is the same...

as a guy who fled his sentence for raping a kid.

What a hypocrite I am.

[Forkboy]

35. Both are pretty heinous crimes, and both are sick and inhumane.

Too bad Polanski didn't serve his 40 days. You could be defending him instead.

[BlooInBloo]

36. ... and one served his sentenced time, while the other didn't.

[Forkboy]

37. Like I said, had Polanski served his 40 days you could be defending him.

[Liquorice]

38. He wasn't sentenced to 40 days. That was his psych evaluation. nt

[BlooInBloo]

39. Ah. Pure made-up hypothetical story criticism.

[Forkboy]

40. Ah, pure hypocrisy that you'll never admit too.

[BlooInBloo]

41. I can't with any honesty admit to hypocrisy due to a made-up counterfactual story...

I'm ok with it, if you want to hold that against me though.

[Forkboy]

44. You defend Vick and animal torture because he served his time.

Yet you say athletes who do bad things should be included. One shithead crime - ok. Another shithead crime - bad. One served his time so it's ok. One didn't so he's bad. Like I said, if Polanski had served his time I'm sure you'd defend him, as that seems to be your measure of what makes a crime forgivable.

I'm ok with it, if you can't see your own hypocrisy though.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

43. Anyone that can read this deposition that the victim gave

all those years ago and not want to see this guy in jail is nuts. Repeatedly she asks to go home. Repeatedly during the rape(s) she tells him "no."

This guy is scum.

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/polanskib9.html

[Maru Kitteh]

46. You expect nobility from a child bugger. Not. going. to happen.

Let him die in jail.