The Polanski "quandary"

[ataxi]

FRIAR BARNARDINE. Thou hast committed--
BARABAS. Fornication: but that was in another country;
And besides, the wench is dead.

Marlowe, The Jew of Malta
I don't see it as my task or as my right to dispense moral instruction, but this Polanski business is like the Pole Star of moral navigation. You don't even need a compass. Here's a brief list of

Comments

[eclipsedeyes]

exactly.

[ataxi]

Yeah.

No sort of conversation about freedoms, or propriety, or the definition of sexual assault, or the age of consent or a sunset clause on punishment for crimes committed long ago should even be had until there's a general return to reality on the fact that Polanski is simply not "the victim".

It's like the ultimate derailing ... in fact it's even helping me understand that term better.

pointless comment saying yes, i agree! also, it makes me angry reading about it.

[elaran]

I can't see why anything should exonerate him, much less a massed choir of film people demanding exceptional treatment because he's a genius and muddying the waters with claims about artistic freedom.
yeah.

[elaran]

also, this: http://www.salon.com/mwt/broadsheet/feature/2009/09/28/polanski_arrest/

[ataxi]

Yes, exactly.

[alias_sqbr]

Absolutely. Did you see the petition with the list of famous people saying he should be exonerated? Blah to them >:/

[ataxi]

Yeah, I was seriously disappointed because many of my favourite artists were on that list. I hope that in retrospect they'll realise, even privately, that they shouldn't have allowed themselves to be swayed by group psychology.

[nephron]

I was horrified.

[alias_sqbr]

If it helps here's a list of celebrities condemning him: http://chrismm.dreamwidth.org/577422.html

[mojave_wolf]

Totally with you here. I think a lot of people focus on the age and pretend it was just statutory and ignore (I hope they don't know, but I worry they do and choose to pretend otherwise) the whole "she kept saying no and crying and this would have been a clear cut rape if she was 20 or 30 even aside from the drugging her prior to" angle.

I mean, I love some of his movies too, but no pity whatsoever for the scumbucket. Ye gods, people are messed up.

[nephron]

Hey, even if it was "just" statutory, he was a 40-something year old man raping a 13 year old girl.

I'm not sure in what US that's legal.