Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired

 

Story:

This penetrating documentary explores the tumultuous events of director Roman Polanski's personal life, including the murder of his pregnant wife, Sharon Tate, and the controversial sex scandal that prompted him to flee the United States for France. Highlights include an interview with Polanski's victim, Samantha Geimer, as well as candid conversations with Chinatown screenwriter Robert Towne and actress Mia Farrow (Netflix).

Review:

A scene from one of Roman Polanski’s earliest films has him in an open field jumping around to the beat of another man playing a drum.  He seems to have no control over the matter, and doesn’t seem happy about these circumstances.  So he wriggles himself free from the enslaving beat, and runs away.  There couldn’t be a better visual metaphor for the documentary Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired. Polanski is a world renowned director of films dating back to the 1960s.  But as well known as his films are, he is probably better known for his personal life.  This documentary takes us through all aspects of his tragic life.  But while the film recounts his ups and downs there is the giant elephant in the room: his love of young girls, or as he would say, young women. He speaks very freely and is very charming for a fugitive who fled the country to avoid prosecution from charges of drugging, raping, and sodomizing a thirteen-year-old girl.  In the film you’ll get to hear from the victim as well, all grown up.  Was it consensual?  What actually happened?  How was this allowed to happen?  There are many questions you’ll have, and most all of them get answered. The real point of the documentary however, is to show the circus that was the Roman Polanski court room, and why he fled.  The dynamic of two young, intelligent lawyers, a judge most concerned with his image, and a world famous director as the defendant in a courtroom drama has outdone OJ, Michael Jackson, and all other celebrity trials before or since.  The judge takes the trial on a wild ride that doesn’t make sense no matter what point of view you have on the case.  While you may not agree with it, you’ll certainly understand why Roman Polanski jumped on a plane and never came back. It was strange at times to feel bad for Polanski, and then to remember why he is in that position.  Sexual assault aside, you have to admit that he’s had some very depressing, life changing moments happen to him.  When some of the people closest to you have been killed by Nazi’s and the Manson family, you have not lived an average life. While fleeing the country may have allowed Roman Polanski to escape prosecution, it certainly hasn’t allowed anyone to forget why he is a fugitive.  He is constantly questioned on the subject, and everyone is given a stark reminder when he cannot even appear to accept an Oscar for Best Director.  He doesn’t get angry, but is more upset that it has become as much of a legacy in his life as his acclaimed films.  If Roman Polanski had faced the beat of the drum instead of running away, things may have been different.  But of course, that would all depend on the judge.

Reviewed by John Cassaras for Documentary Film Online on March 31, 2010

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