Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired - Review

Marina Zenovich's Documentary of a Turbulent, Tragic Life

Nov 15, 2009

The life of Roman Polanski seems like something out of one of his darker films:. talented director, husband of Sharon Tate, convicted sex offender, father of two.

The title of this biopic documentary comes from the French attitude towards Roman Polanski: they desire him, he is one of them, they appreciate his genius and his presence. Yet in the U.S., Polanski is wanted due to a decades old case for which he believes he did his time. The irregularities of that trial are at the heart of this documentary and are part of the present controversy about Mr. Polanski and whether he should be returned to the U.S. for having had illegal sex with a minor, a young girl of 13. One thing is made very clear in this film - Mr. Polanski has lived an event-filled life. Like his life, this film is not a bit boring, is controversial and creative.

Holocaust Survivor, Husband of Murder Victim, Convicted Criminal

Polanski's early life set the stage for what was to follow. Born in France, his parents returned to Poland at precisely the wrong time - ending with his mother being killed in Auschwitz, his father being captured, and young Polanski on his own. Films provided an early escape for the young Roman, and his course as a future director and producer was set. Famous for the eerie Rosemary's Baby, Polanski was part of the inner circle of Hollywood elite when he married the lovely Sharon Tate. When Ms. Tate was murdered by the Manson gang while 8 months pregnant, Polanski's world once again turned very dark. Following the murder, the press turned on Polanski and made many ugly allegations towards him and his murdered wife, which stung the director to the quick.

Convicted of Illegal Sex with a 13 Year Old Girl, Polanski Flees

After a couple of sessions of photographing a very young girl topless, Polanski allegedly gave the girl part of a quaalude and had oral, anal and vaginal sex with her, despite her protestations. When the girl returned home in tears and confessed what had happened, Polanski was arrested. Due to his notoriety, the trial became a source for news media frenzy, aided and abetted by a judge who hungered for fame himself. Judge Rittenbend is portrayed in this film as someone without much character. Unfortunately, the judge has since died, so his side of the story is lost. However, since both sides in the case, the District Attorney as well as the Defense, concur about some of the irregularities, it gives weight to the problematic nature of the plea bargain that was struck.

Both Mr. Polanski and his former victim have now been married for two decades and each have two or three children, respectively. The victim, seen in the film as an adult as well as a child, has asked that Mr. Polanski not be sent to prison, yet the U.S. has continued to seek extradition. Polanski has dual citizenship in France and Poland and has avoided travelling to the U.S. and other countries for years. Now seventy-five years old, Mr. Polanski is once again experiencing life throwing a wrench into the works. Does he deserve it after committing such a heinous crime? What is to be gained at this point, since the victim is begging for the case to be ended at last? Watch the film before you decide.

The copyright of the article Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired - Review in Biographical Documentaries is owned by Barbara DeGrande. Permission to republish Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired - Review in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.