Polanski Arrested for Raping 13-Year-Old Girl Causes Uproar in Europe and Hollywood
Posted: Tuesday, September 29, 2009
by Steve Kovacs
The Kovacs Perspective
Famed 76-year-old movie director Roman Polanski was arrested In Switzerland last week on charges of fleeing sentencing for the statutory rape of a 13-year old girl in Los Angeles . The crime occurred in 1977. Polanski admitted to having sex with the child and he was awaiting sentencing when he decided to flee to France .
France would not extradite Polanski for America 's active warrants. American official's have kept an eye on Polanski and have been ready to arrest him throughout the years. However, Polanski was careful not to travel to areas where there might have been a chance of being arrested, and extradited to the US . Throughout the years, he made many last minute travel changes to make sure he would not be caught in areas where extradition was possible. In short, he has been on guard for 31 years.
Polanski also received support from Poland where he lived as a youngster. The Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said, "I am considering approaching the American authorities over the possibility of the US president proclaiming an act of clemency". Hollywood chimed in too. Bill Flicker, a film editor who once worked with Polanski said, "It's stupid and a waste of resources. I don't understand why they are doing this".
In 2003, Polanski won the Best Director Oscar for The Pianist and received a standing ovation. Of course, Polanski wasn't in the audience because he was a fugitive hiding in France . Actress Debra Winger said of the recent arrest, "We hope today this latest (arrest) order will be dropped. It is based on a three-decades-old case that is dead but for minor technicalities. We stand by him and await his release and his next masterpiece."
Many reports regarding this case simply state Polanski admitted having sex with a 13-year old girl. This sounds bad enough but it makes it sound too antiseptic, too easy and almost as if it were a simple mistake or even consensual in some way. Nothing is further from the truth. Grand Jury testimony shows that Polanski gave drugs and alcohol to the child before he penetrated her. In addition, it shows the child could hardly stand and stay coherent as she begged him to stop.
Some in France say America is showing its ugly side. I say America is showing its good side. It is showing its side where justice counts. It is showing its side where we stand up for the right thing to do, no matter what. Further, that we take care of our citizens, that if you rape a child you will have consequences, no matter what or when. In addition, for those in Hollywood who say Polanski is a brilliant director and a great contributor to the arts and we should let this old case just go away, I say, get out of your fantasy world. I say, get out and see what the real world is like. There is another world, a world where there is a right and wrong and where there are consequences to behavior. I say, get to know the world where artistic privilege does not exist and where the average American knows much more than the average Hollywood elitist does.
US officials did the right thing by pursuing Polanski. I would expect nothing less. This is one of those times I am proud to be an American.
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Top-level comments on this article: (10 total)America is pursuing justice, and France is rolling over. Sound familiar? Geez, just when you think the French are about to dispell the notion they are gutless, this happens.I actually like France, yet there should be no quarter given to this guy, 'famed' or not. It's not like he stole a loaf of bread thirty years ago. Well-done.Well put, it's not like he stole a loaf of bread...thanks for writing MikeAnd by the way Mike you bring up a great point--America is pursuing justice...there really is such a thing... contrary to what many believe.Well, how about America pursuing justice in any way, i.e. CIA investigations torturing and raping prisoners, people on the death corridors who haven't had a fair trial due to lack of money etc. Polanski has a lot of money. If the girl, now a woman, drops the charges against him, he walks free and that's also American justice.Thanks for offering your view.
The victim, who is now 45, says the incident did not traumatize her life and has long since forgiven Mr. Polanski. The U.S. prosecutors should just get over it too. Yes, he did flee to France after pleading guilty, but the judge reneged on the deal (which was to include no jail time) that Polanski had made with the prosecutor at the time. Instead, the judge was likely going to impose a multi-year prison sentence. How could you blame him for not trusting the U.S. "justice" system? I hope common sense prevails and the charges are dropped. At any rate, Americans have more important things to be concerned with right now.The victim wants to move on as rape victims do and must for their health--kudos to her. The judge did not renege on anything. There is a big difference in apt to and reneged. How about the raping of a child? You did not mention that in your comment. Nevertheless, thanks for reading and writing.Steve, you say " the victim wants to move on as rape victims do and must for their health." I wholeheartedly agree. But here's the problem: She says she can't move on until or unless the charges against Polanski are dropped. She says the attempted prosecution of Polanski has traumatized her far more than what Polanski did to her 30 years ago. And what people need to realize is that the original plea agreement had been negotiated expressly for the purpose of making things easier on the victim, not out of any sympathy for Polanski. My concern is also for the victim, not Polanski. Do we want to punish her in order to punish Polanski? Hasn't she already suffered enough? I say it's time to move on and allow this woman to get on with her life.I'm glad your concern is for the victim. Hopefully, all of this turns out with the least amount of damage to her--she's been through enough. Thanks for writing.
The problem is...he drugged and raped a 13 yo girl. Letting the man go merely tells America and the world that if you are wealthy, part of the "politically correct elite" then dammit, you can do what ever you want.I agree with you Richard, and part of the reason this should go forward is for the reasons you mention. Thanks for writing.
Great article. Well done.The question I want to ask is what are the French playing at?Many in the US have been asking that about France for years...thanks for writing!!
He needs to be prosecuted no matter how many years he has eluded being arrested. The facts are he drugged and raped a CHILD. In this country, that is still illegal. Common sense tells me he's a child molester!Hi Alaina,I agree that common sense dictates much about this case and also that he was, and very well may still be a child molester. He needs to be prosecuted and the word needs to be firmly established that we will prosecute child rapists no matter what. Thanks for writing.
hi steve,if someone did that to my daughter, i'd be on the next plane to wherever that b****** went. he committed a heinous crime, and the girl he so brutally took advantage of should have justice. he may have been in some beautiful country, enjoying himself, but what about the poor girl he raped and took away her innocence? nothing, not even the jailtime i hope he gets, could take away from that.and now, with all the media talking about it, who is going to marvel at the idea that they, too, can kill their wife, husband, boss, etc., and just go to another country that doesn't allow extradition?don't do the crime if you can't do the time.my best to you,sueGreat line--if you can't do the time, don't do the crime...and yes that's exactly what it says if we let it go, that it's open season on some crimes if you can get to another country. Thanks for writing.
well said...couldn't agree more!Thanks for writing!
Steve,I agree. America should continue no matter how artistic the man. He is a child molester and we prosecute over here. We he not who he is, he would have been in prison years ago and no one would have said a word.Thanks for a good view,NancyHi Nancy--I agree with your comments--it looks as if he'll be brought back and face some type of judgement. Thank you for writing.
Steve,I also agree. This man took advantage of a 13 year old girl. She was drugged and raped. She wasn't of legal age of consent, and only the "Hollywood Crowd", would even think for a moment that this pedophile, (Polanski) was being unjustly prosecuted.RayApparently the testimony of the child is being read by more people who in turn are being shocked by how bad the original crime was--I think many who hear or actually read the testimony/reports will change their minds. Maybe even some in Hollywood! Thanks for writing.
According to the information provided, many years ago a deal was made between the prosecutor and Polanski that he would not do jail time for a crime that most men would be in a hole for 90 years for. The judge, who approved the deal, reneged; probably because he may have looked at his own daughter or saw a little girl playing at a park and realized that another rich and famous personality was about to get away with a crime in which he preyed on the sexuality of a child. Polanski thought he had the right to book from the country because he was double -crossed. He was recently arrested in France and faces American justice, despite the anger of French officials. He will most likely see no jail time because he has the money to pay off the justice system as he had the money to like had paid off the victim. The ideal thing that can happen is that he or somebody like him attempt to rape a young lady who likes to carry a razor. He would then direct a movie call the Castration of a Perverted Director.Hi Mike,Thanks for reading and commenting. Thanks for offering your opinion on how things may have transpired and what his next movie could very well have been called if circumstances would have been different!
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