This film is making the festival circuit, and is also airing on HBO starting on June 9th.This doc, directed by Marina Zenovich, won the editing award at this years Sundance Festival. It takes a detailed look at the events, and legal drama surrounding the Roman Polanski child-rape case of late 70's, which effectively left the legendary director away from America ever since.
To be honest, I didn't know much about this story, aside from the sensational headlines. Needless to say, everything I pretty much thought about Polanski, and this case were wrong.
The movie features beautiful candid films of Polanski with his beautiful wife, Sharon Tate, before she was tragically murdered by Charles Manson's Family. Then the focus shifts to archival footage, mixed with new interviews from everyone involved in the infamous case: the defense and prosecution lawyers, Polanski's friends, cops and even the young girl (now growned up) who accused him. The film's thesis is that Polanski's case was mired by a fame-hungry judge, who skewered the law for public notoriety. It's a fairly strong case, as everyone involved agrees that the judge screwed up. In fact, everyone doesn't blame Polanski for gettin' out of dodge.
The problems with the film, and perhaps it's greatest flaw, is that there are no current interviews with Polanski. As a result, I was left a bit unfulfilled and unsatisfied. Also, I'm a bit wary of putting Polanski in a sympathetic light, because everyone agrees he, in fact, did rape the 13-year old girl (granted, he plead guilty to a lesser charge). He did not get a fair trial, but he still served his sentence. Whether he's paid his debt to society, that's another question.
Regardless, the movie is definitely interesting, and changed my perspective on the topic.
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