The world of cinema would not have been the same without Roman Polanski, director of the classic “Chinatown” and famous “The Pianist”, both of them films that helped this man climb up high and jump directly into the restricted rank of legendary and well-respected moviemakers.
During these last few days, his name has been filling the news and tabloids, making headlines all around the world. His initial intentions of attending a ceremony to receive an award for his career achievements were utterly altered by his unexpected arrest in Switzerland, after the US gave orders of finally capturing Polanski.
The incident itself aroused a long catalogue of conflicting opinions. And that is just a side of the story, for his arrest has now escalated into an international-scale concern. I was extremely surprised after reading about France and Poland’s requests for the liberation of the filmmaker. It really made my neurones work a little bit harder –and my heart too, if you wish-. Of course it disappointing and extremely heartbreaking that someone you admire is being held under the force of the law, accused for a criminal act, and knowing he is being arrested for it. But we live in a world controlled by rules and his case is nowhere far from having violated them—he even pledged guilty about his accusation years ago and so he fled to France. Had it been an unrecognized person, stranger for most of the world, his actions would have been fiercely condemned at the very least. Rape is not one of the usually forgiven crimes, but one of those that keep you under the scrutiny of public eye, the harsh words spoken by innumerable tongues, and the punishments of our beloved justice. Our beloved justice I said… really? We seem to only ask for her divine intervention when we want her to. It might be because we never promised justice our unconditional love (though we make her believe we did… and we also fooled ourselves thinking the exact same thing). That must be it. And Polanski’s case is showing how we can easily bend and soften the law whenever we feel it is most “appropriate”. I repeat: I truly admire him for his work, but rape… that is another thing. How could he possibly be above law? Why should he receive more compassion and help from authorities than the rest of men and women that have been sent to jail because of the same crime? This event is really putting at stake the credibility of our laws and the respect we have for them. The issue here goes beyond Roman Polanski's legal condition and the feast his situation is giving to entartainment TV channels. It is about the commitment of our governments towards the law.
The real problem was that this case was not solved since the very beginning. Why did it take the US so much time to try to reinitiate the trial? Did they said: “Oh, well, we’ll free the man and let him do more movies for us, yay” And then what? They did not like his most recent films and tried to arrest him then? Honestly, it is not like he was secretly hidden!
Also, why is Switzerland taking an active role in all this disaster so suddenly? Polanski has been spent years coming and going out of the country without any single problem and, as reports mention, he even has a property there! It is kind of weird that the Swiss authorities decide to arrest him all of the sudden.
And meanwhile, France and Poland have already sent a message to Hillary Clinton so she can take action and reflect on their desire of releasing Roman Polanski and drop out his process of extradition to the US. Sarkozy has requested a rapid solution for all this drama.
Just for your own reflections, a series of quotes done by Frédéric Mitrerrand, Minister of Culture and Communication of France concerning Polanski’s arrest:
"In the same way that there is a generous America that we like, there is also a scary America that has just shown its face."
And from French Foreign Minister, Bernard Kouchner:
"It's a little sinister, this business, to be quite frank.”
For more information in case you are interested :)
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10600231
http://www.emorywheel.com/detail.php?n=27405
http://www.abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/roman-polanski-arrested-switzerland-faces-extradition-1977-statutory/story?id=8685935
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/378af0e0-ac62-11de-a754-00144feabdc0.html?nclick_check=1
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article6851581.ece
