My Final Word on Polanski

I was sorry to see this all dredged back up again. This site fell into the same trap back when Polanski’s The Pianist was up for Oscars. Many of those hellbent on punishing Polanski did not want to see him win any awards. They were here then and, it appears, they are here now. I now would like to put the whole thing to rest. This because of a particularly ugly email I received, which you can read after the cut.

Let’s just agree to disagree. But I have to ask one more question of you who believe Polanski “raped a child” – if he is given a sentence and serves it, what then?¬† Do you really believe that his punishment will absolve him of guilt? Or do you believe that someone who did something like this can never be reformed or forgiven, despite the kind of suffering they endured in their life? Will you still say his films are worthless and he, as a human being is worthless?

The writer doesn’t seem to know that my daughter would never be let within ten feet of Roman Polanski or any other male film director, least of all to take “modeling” photos. It just wouldn’t have happened. Polanski committed a crime – I have never argued that. But I believe when you say he “raped a child” you color it with an additional layer that just isn’t there.

I hope this closes the subject, at least on this website. I do not wish to see this continue as it’s getting as ugly as human nature is capable of.

[Edit – I’m taking the email down because I don’t want to put it out there and I’m closing comments]