OK, I am really not trying to start shit, but didn't Jezebel publish something about Polanski that, essentially, suggested that that poor 13-year old deserved it? And isn't that writer still gainfully employed here? Isn't it then a tiny bit hypocritical to point out how scummy the documentary was, when Jezebel has already published something (tacitly, perhaps) supporting it? I'm a little confused, I guess.
@swedishfishing: I think most people aren't eager to revisit that colossal clusterfuck, but, yes. Jessica Grose, to her credit did apologize. Tracie published a doubly insulting nonpology that would make Chris Brown proud. I guess the explanation is that the writers don't all share the same views.
He used his age and power over a child, drugged her, scared her, anally raped her. He is a criminal. Why, if he's such a sensitive artist, does he have no remorse? He only has sympathy for his own pain. DICK.
Ooon the one hand Polanski is a brilliant director who lost a mother to the Holocaust, barely survived himself and who's wife was dismembered by the Manson family. Also he was serving his sentence when the judge up and changed the sentence to something significantly more severe so he could have more publicity, and the case is now getting publicity because of a similar DA.
On the other hand he raped a 13 year old girl.
On the one foot, the girl's mother left her alone with him in Jack Nicholson's house for an evening. And as an adult the victim has asked that the case be dismissed and everyone leave her alone.
On the other foot, he still raped a 13 year old girl.
This is grayer then that pair of pants I just bought.
@maggeimerc: What on earth does the fact that her mother left her alone have to do with anything? Do 13 year old girls need to be accompanied by their mothers everywhere at all times in order not to be drugged and raped? Is their some assumption that an unaccompanied 13 year old is fair game? And the fact that the victim feels more vicitimized by the criminal justice system doesn't excuse Polanski either-- it's a fairly common feeling, as evidenced by every discussion of reporting sexual assualt and domestic abuse, including the one earlier this week on this very site.
Maybe she genuinely has forgiven him, but we don't fail to prosecute every domestic abuser whose wife or girlfriend says they'de made up, do we? I think ther'e room for a legal system that takes redemption more seriously, but it's not the one we've got, and I don't really see where Polanski's tried to redeem himself. And maybe the victim feels she has to say she's forgiven him, because there's a world full of powerful celebrities, the people she used to want to be, blaming her for the destruction of their hero's career, speaking publicly about a traumatic event that they know little about firsthand, and calling her 13 year old self a slut for having had a boyfriend.
What exactly is grey? Whether or not it's ok to enjoy/support his art, or whether it's somehow OK that he raped this girl?
@maggeimerc: ok. he has already been convicted of this crime. he has fled the jurisdiction, he is a fugitive from justice. what his adult victim wants means fuck all, the fact that he's a survivor means fuck all, the fact that his wife was murdered means fuck all. He was getting a psych eval not "serving his time" he in fact had not been officially sentenced yet. And the comment about the mother leaving her 13 alone with him? How does that have ANYTHING to do with any of the above?
@bluebears: Seriously. I'm always confused when the mother's actions are brought into this. Even if it were proven that the mother fully anticipated and intended that the result of leaving her daughter in a hosue full of celebrities would result in her being drugged and raped, all that would mean was the mother was ALSO guilty of a crime. I mean hell, there are mothers who sell their underage daughters into sex slavery. Does that mean that the traffickers and johns are no longer guilty of a crime? Like, oh well, if you lost the genetic lottery so badly that even your own mom doesn't care to protect you, then anything anyone else does to you is a-ok?
Coverage of this irresponsible movie was my intro to Jezebel- thanks for staying with it, and thanks to Salon! Finally it is being represented as it is- justification of horrors.
@PilgrimSoul: That's what I thought when I saw this post, but I think the technofuckery with the comment probably prevented some of the potential crazy.
Yup, I liked the article. Yes, the judge did some shitty stuff. Doesn't negate what Polanski did. If Polanski doesn't want to come to the U.S. and face up to what he did, then he can die overseas. Stuff like this is making me more and more ashamed that the Acadmey gave him an Oscar, for crying out loud.
I was glad to read this on Salon and see it here. I too love Polanski's movies. He's clearly one of the best directors of the 20th century, but the facts of this case are quite clear and I've been heartsick to read lots of Facebook updates from people who saw the documentary and found it "fascinating" and "interesting."
Hmmm, well, often people aren't fucking "unresponsive" when being raped, you fucking above-the-law piece of shit. I'm pretty sure I understand loud and clear what you mean by that, and that makes it all the more skin-crawlingly disgusting.
@GeorgeFayne: Yes, this tears me apart. How someone so brilliant could've done something so vile. Not that brilliancy excuses such shit but still. I can't put it together.
I was only vaguely aware that Polanski wasn't allowed back in the U.S. because of legal reasons. Hearing the details behind the case, I can't believe that he's being allowed to essentially get himself a new trial!
Hmmm, well, often people aren't fucking "unresponsive" when being raped, you fucking above-the-law piece of shit. I'm pretty sure I understand loud and clear what you meant by that, and that makes it all the more skin-crawlingly disgusting.
You're average rape victim gets humiliated and ignored by the judicial system while we've devoted countless dollars, time and energy to chasing Polanski, who is never going to be held accountable.
YOu could argue that a conviction against Polanski would send a strong message. The problem is, they're never going to get a conviction, even if he goes to jail. As I see it, it's a huge waste of resources. His victim doesn't even want to prosecute.
I take it Salon's Bill Wyman is not the Rolling Stone's Bill Wyman? The latter, like Polanski had a "relationship" with a 13 year old girl when he was in his 40s. Unlike Polanski, Wyman married the girl in question, Mandy Smith, thereby avoiding potential charges for having sex with a minor.
02/19/09
Vanity Fair did a very detailed investigation into this several years ago, and it was clear he'd raped this poor little girl. I hope he dies in exile.
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On the other hand he raped a 13 year old girl.
On the one foot, the girl's mother left her alone with him in Jack Nicholson's house for an evening. And as an adult the victim has asked that the case be dismissed and everyone leave her alone.
On the other foot, he still raped a 13 year old girl.
This is grayer then that pair of pants I just bought.
02/19/09
Maybe she genuinely has forgiven him, but we don't fail to prosecute every domestic abuser whose wife or girlfriend says they'de made up, do we? I think ther'e room for a legal system that takes redemption more seriously, but it's not the one we've got, and I don't really see where Polanski's tried to redeem himself. And maybe the victim feels she has to say she's forgiven him, because there's a world full of powerful celebrities, the people she used to want to be, blaming her for the destruction of their hero's career, speaking publicly about a traumatic event that they know little about firsthand, and calling her 13 year old self a slut for having had a boyfriend.
What exactly is grey? Whether or not it's ok to enjoy/support his art, or whether it's somehow OK that he raped this girl?
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Hmmm, well, often people aren't fucking "unresponsive" when being raped, you fucking above-the-law piece of shit. I'm pretty sure I understand loud and clear what you mean by that, and that makes it all the more skin-crawlingly disgusting.
(terribly sorry if this comment shows up twice)
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Hmmm, well, often people aren't fucking "unresponsive" when being raped, you fucking above-the-law piece of shit. I'm pretty sure I understand loud and clear what you meant by that, and that makes it all the more skin-crawlingly disgusting.
02/19/09
YOu could argue that a conviction against Polanski would send a strong message. The problem is, they're never going to get a conviction, even if he goes to jail. As I see it, it's a huge waste of resources. His victim doesn't even want to prosecute.
We need better priorities.
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