Repulsion

Martin Scorcese is one of my favorite directors. I would pay to see his version of a Bowflex infomercial. I am also a big fan of Woody Allen's films, especially the "earlier funny ones." I have great admiration for his work ethic and his body of work. For that matter, I have always had a soft spot for Debra Winger, and not just because she was the voice of E.T. And how about that Salman Rushdie? He sure can write, can't he?
These are just some of the big names that have signed a petition demanding "immediate release of Roman Polanski." You remember Mister Polanski. He won an Academy Award for best director in 2002 for his harrowing story of the Holocaust, "The Pianist." Or his epic detective thriller, "Chinatown." Perhaps you remember a little film entitled "Rosemary's Baby?" There are dozens more. Some have more art and cult followings, but this is definitely a very talented man. A man of great vision. A convicted sex offender.
He was accused of plying a thirteen-year-old girl with champagne and part of a Quaalude pill during a modeling shoot in 1977. For his part, Polanski pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of unlawful sexual intercourse. In exchange, the judge agreed to drop the remaining charges and sentence him to prison for a ninety-day psychiatric evaluation. After forty-two days, he was deemed mentally stable, and he was released, whereupon he fled the United States, never to return.
Until now. The gendarmes caught up to him on September 26, and he has been awaiting extradition from Switzerland. Hasn't this man suffered enough? Samantha Geimer, the young girl he raped, reached a half-million dollar settlement in October 1993. Geimer, who identified herself long ago, sued Polanski in December 1988 when she was twenty-five years old, alleging sexual assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress and seduction. She has since joined in Polanski's bid for dismissal and has forgiven him. Five hundred thousand dollars and thirty years buys a lot of forgiveness. I suppose I can understand why Woody might want to close the book on this one, but I'm still having trouble seeing Roman Polanski as a victim.