France shows support for Polanski after sex crime arrest

[tinpra]

PARIS, France (CNN) -- French authorities expressed solidarity with Roman Polanski's family Monday after authorities arrested the filmmaker on a 1970s sexual-offense charge involving a 13-year-old girl.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said he hoped authorities would respect Polanski's rights "and that the affair (will) come to a favorable resolution," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The French culture and communications minister, Frederic Mitterrand, said he "learned with astonishment" of Polanski's arrest. He expressed solidarity with Polanski's family and said "he wants to remind everyone that Roman Polanski benefits from great general esteem" and has "exceptional artistic creation and human qualities."

Investigators in the United States say Polanski drugged and raped a 13-year-old girl in the 1970s. Polanski pleaded guilty in 1977 to having unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, but he fled the United States before he could be sentenced and settled in France.

U.S. authorities have had a warrant for his arrest since 1978. Police in Switzerland arrested Polanski on that warrant Saturday after the 76-year-old tried to enter Switzerland to attend the Zurich Film Festival, which is holding a tribute to Polanski this year.

Filmmakers have reacted with outrage at the arrest.

"As a Swiss filmmaker, I feel deeply ashamed," Christian Frei said.

"He's a brilliant guy, and he made a little mistake 32 years ago. What a shame for Switzerland," said photographer Otto Weisser, a friend of Polanski.

(Read the rest at CNN.com)

--------

My coworker and I were actually talking about this earlier, but reading it for myself is worse.

Comments

[lieueitak.livejournal.com]

This really makes me furious. In addition to France being butthurt, there's also a petition that a bunch of celebs have signed.

I've heard that Polanski is going to ask Hillary Clinton for clemency. Considering she JUST gave a speech the other day to the UN about violence against women and girls, I'm really hoping she bitchslaps the hell out of him.

[jeymien.livejournal.com]

I'm really not sure what to think of this.

On one hand, the guy ran out on charges decades ago, and is now finally going to have to face the music..

On the other hand, the victim wants charges dropped and has for years and it was 32 years ago, this old man in prison, after he was supposed to be going to a film festival that was going to honor his work..

[tinpra.livejournal.com]

I've had something of the same thoughts that you're mentioning. I am absolutely furious and disgusted at the whole thing, as I said, but the question of mercy keeps coming to mind. So as I've been turning that over in my head it came back to me that mercy isn't earned, it's given. I was also reminded that just b/c someone is forgiven for something doesn't mean they don't have to face the consequences of their actions. What does it say to some woman or man who was abused as a child and who does want to prosecute if they can? That if their attacker is famous enough, or if the crime was distant enough, that they won't receive justice? That's not right. Clearly Polanski didn't feel guilty enough to stick around and face jail time the first time around. He never turned himself in later. He never stopped working b/c the guilt over what he had done made him feel like he didn't deserve to be honored for being a film maker.

Clearly you can see where I stand on this. I don't really mean to get all soap-boxy, but it has been on my mind off-and-on all day.

[tinpra.livejournal.com]

Without the cussing, but yes I totally agree with you. What hutzpah! I'd love to hear from Heather re what she's hearing in France about this, if anything. She so busy w/her new job, she might be totally out of the news-loop.

[lieueitak.livejournal.com]

What does it say to some woman or man who was abused as a child and who does want to prosecute if they can? I think it will tell them exactly what it told the victim in this case. No wonder she wants the case dropped; after thirty years, he's never paid for drugging or sodomizing her, even though he was found guilty and pled guilty to the crime, and every time it's discussed her suffering is made to be secondary to his "genius."