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Petition for Roman Polanski Signatories

Ramon Novarro biography Beyond Paradise

List of individuals who have signed (as of Oct. 7) the “Free Roman Polanskipetition organized by the Société des Auteurs et Compositeurs Dramatiques (SACD):

Michael A. Russ Erika Abrams, Fatih Akin, Yves Alberty, Stephane Allagnon, Woody Allen, Pedro Almodóvar, Gianni Amelio, Greta Amend, Wes Anderson, Michel Andrieu, Roger Andrieux, Pascale Angelini, Yannick Angelloznicoud Jean-Jacques Annaud, Tomas Arana, Frédéric Aranzueque-Arrieta, Alexandre Arcady, Fanny Ardant, Asia Argento, Marie-Hélène Arnau, Stéphane Arnoux, Darren Aronofsky, Olivier Assayas, Alexander Astruc, Simone Audissou, Gabriel Auer, Zdzicho Augustyniak, Alexandre Babel, Vladimir Bagrianski, Lubomila Bakardi, Fausto Nicolás Balbi, Eleonor Baldwin, Jean-François Balmer, Alberto Barbera (Museo nazionale de Torino), Sylvie Bardet-Borel, Luc Barnier, Christophe Barratier, Ernest Barteldes, Carmen Bartl, Pascal Batigne, Anne Baudry, Henning Bauer, Tone Bay Juan Antonio Bayona, Xavier Beauvois, Liria Begeja, Matthieu Béguelin, Gilles Behat, Jean-Jacques Beineix, Marco Bellochio, Yannick Bellon, Florence Bellone, Monica Bellucci, Véra Belmont, Jacqueline Belon, Jean-Marc Benguigui, Djamel Bennecib, Saïd Ben-Said Luc Béraud, Jean-Pierre Berckmans, Jacob Berger, Christof Berger, Alain Berliner, Gael Garcia Bernal, Pascal Berney, Xavier Berry, Bernardo Bertolucci, Giuseppe Bertolucci, Jean-Marie Besset, Nico Beyer, Marlène Bisson, Arnstein Bjørkly, Lucien Blacher, Virginie Blanc-Brude Bard, Jean-Marc Bloch, Léa Bloch, Catherine Boissière, Anne-Sylvie Bonaud, Olivier Bonnet, Thierry Boscheron, Renata Bosco, Freddy Bossy, Jacqueline Bouchard, Louise Anne Bouchard Patrick Bouchitey, Cédric Bouchoucha, Paul Boujenah, Patrice Bourbon, Frédéric Bourboulon, Etienne Boussac, Katia Boutin, Elizabeth Brach Ian Brady, Jacques Bral, Sophie Bramly, Paulo Branco, Patrick Braoudé, Guila Braoudé, Edwin Brienen, Adrien Brody, Isabelle Broué, Max Brun, Merima Bruncevic, Bastien Brunel Anne Burki, André Buytaers, Emilie Buzyn, Anthony Byrne, Marco Cacioppo, Gerald Calderon, Monica Cannizzaro, Peggy Carajopoulou-Vavali, John Carchietta, Christian Carion, Henning Carlsen, Jean-Michel Carré, Esteban Carvajal Alegria, Lionel Cassan, Bryan Cassiday, Miss Catadler, Steve Catieau Mathieu Celary, Teco Celio, Muriel Cerf, Dabiel Chabannes, Thierry Chabert, Chagi, Jean-Yves Chalangeas, Daniel Champagnon, Christophe Champclaux, Georges Chappedelaine , Litseselidis Charalampos Yann Charbonnier, David Charhon, Fabienne Chauveau, Claire Chazal, Patrice Chéreau, Brigitte Chesneau, Marie-Christine Chesneau, Michel Chevalier, Mishka Cheyko, Catherine Chiono, Catherine Chouchan, Elie Chouraqui, Alex Cichy, Souleymane Cissé, Jean- Pierre Clech, Henri Codenie, Robert Cohen, Olivier Cohen, Catherine Colassin, Suzanne Colonna, Jean-Paul Commin, Andrea Concato, Anne Consigny, Alain Cophignon, Antony Cordier, Alain Corneau, Jérôme Cornuau, Bruno Coulais Guy Courtecuisse, Miguel Courtois, Antoine Courtray, Guillaume Cousin, Morgan Crestel, Rudyard Cretenet, Dominique Crevecoeur, Alfonso Cuaron, Estelle Cywje, Nicola D’Ugo, Frédéric Damien, Sophie Danon, Olivier Dard, Luc et Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Isabelle Dassonville, Sophie Davidas, Bruno de Almeida, Marion de Blaÿ, François de Lamothe, Hervé de Luze, Artus de Penguern, Valérie de Saint-Do, Virginie De Wilde, Christel de Wit, Olivier Debert, Viviane Decuypere, Guillermo del Toro, Alain Delannoy, Benoît Delmas, Michel Deloore, Jonathan Demme, Nicolaine den Breejen, Ruud den Dryver, Louisa Dent, Edwin Dervaux, Dante Desarthe, Romain Desbiens, Sophie Deschamps, Thomas Desjonquères, Alexandre Desplat, Chris Devi, Rosalinde et Michel Deville, Guillaume D’Ham, Christelle Didier, Kathrin DiPaola, Claire Dixsaut, Julien Doger, Catherine Doire, Xavier Dolan, Helen Donlon, Ariel Dorfman, Kristen Doty, Jean Douchet, Thierry Drean, Fabrice du Welz, Marina Duarte Nunes Ferreira, Danièle Dubroux, Marc Dufrenois, Martine Dugowson, François Duhamel, Sissi Duparc, Jean Dusaussoy, Daniel Edinger, Arne Eickenberg, Yaniv Elani, Gerónimo Elortegui, Elrem, Sam Enoch, Peter Lucas Erixon, Ernest, Ann Eyckmans, Nicolas Fagard Jacques Fansten, Joël Farges, Gianluca Farinelli (Cinémathèque de de Bologne), Etienne Faure, Pierre Antoine Faure, Maud et Romain Ferrari, Michel Ferry, Jean Teddy Filippe, Aurélie Fiorentino, Alan Fischer, Bob Fischer, Martine Fitoussi, Sebastian Fleischhacker, Joy Fleury, Michael Flynn, Hugues Fontenoy, Scott Foundas, Werner Fraai, Jean-Robert Franco, Stephen Frears, Patrick Frégonara, Marion Frelat, Thierry Frémaux, Marc Freycon, Nadine Fruchard, Sam Gabarski, Dominique Gadoin, Jean Francois Gaillard, René Gainville, Sara Gandolfi, Fernand Garcia, Matteo Garone, Yves Gasser, Tony Gatlif, Catherine Gaudin-Montalto, Jean-Marc Gauthier, Costa Gavras, Christiane Gehl-Gabadou Nathalie Geiser, Lizi Gelber, Isabelle Gély, Jean-Marc Ghanassia, Alain Gil, Véronique Gillet, Terry Gilliam, Christian Gion, François Girault, Stéphane Gizard, Nelson Gonzalez, Carlos Miguel Bernardo González, Charles Andre Gordeaux, Christophe Goumand, Michel Gras, Eric Gravereau, Martin Gregus, Dominique Greusard, Thierry Grizard, Serge Grünberg Philippe Gruss, Geoffroy Guerrier, Florent Guézengar, Marc Guidoni, Marta Gutowska, Mikael Håfström, Lesly Hamilton, Catherine Hargreaves, Ronald Harwood, Dimitri Haulet, Geert Heirbaut, Buck Henry, Nicole Herbaut de Lamothe, Thoralf Herz, David Heyman, Laurent Heynemann, Joshua Highfield , Patrick Hirigoyen, Dominique Hollier, Isabelle Hontebeyrie, Frédéric Horiszny, Andreas Horvath, Robert Hossein, Jean-Loup Hubert, Wendy Hudson, Allison Hull, Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Gilles Jacob, Eric et Veronique et Nicolas Jacquelin, Olivier Jacquet, Just Jaeckin, Thomas Jahn, Olivia Janik, Nihad Christian Jarallah, Jean-Baptiste Jay, Anne Jeandet, Marie Jergan, Alain Jessua, Renate Jett, Sébastien Jimenez, Arthur Joffé, Pierre Jolivet, Kent Jones (World Cinema Foundation), Erik Jørgensen, Peter Josy, Florence Joutel, Rémy Jouvin Bessière, Alexandra Julen, Paola Jullian, Roger Kahane, Pierre Kalfon, Elisabeth Kalinowski, Michel Kammoun, Pascal Kané, Reena Kanji, Nelly Kaplan, Wong Kar Waï, Katylodola, Nicolas Kermel, Darius Khondji, Nathalie Kiener, Ladislas Kijno, Luc Kinsch, Muriel Kintziger, Richard Klebinder, Jonathan Klein, Harmony Korinne, Jan Kounen, Andrzej Krakowski, Chantal Krakowski, Sylvia Kristel, Hanna Kudelski Diane Kurys, Elzbieta Kusak-Majchrzak, Emir Kusturica, Irene Kuznetzova, Jean Labadie, Eliane Lacroux, Eric Lagesse, Michel Laigle, Stéphane Lam, John Landis, Claude Lanzmann, David Lanzmann, André Larquié, Pauline Larrieu, Jacques et Françoise Lassalle, Marc Latil, Carole Laure, Christine Laurent-Blixen, Pierre Laville, Emilien Lazaron, Eric Le Roy, Pierre Le Scouarnec, Fábio Leal, Vinciane Lecocq, Eric Lecocq, Patrice Leconte, Linda Lefebvre, Béatrice Lefoulon, Delphine Legros, Claude Lelouch, Ann Lemonnier, Julieta Lencina, Alain Lenglet, Gérard Lenne, Claudine Lenoir, Julie Lerouxel, Les Nanaqui, Larry Levine, Charlotte Levy, Lorraine Lévy, Pierre et Renée Lhomme, Katarzyna Lipinska, Marish Lippi Jean-Marc Loiseau, Jean-Claude Irving Longin, Marceline Loridan-Ivens, Nicole Lormeau, Joffrey Louis, Michael Louis Wells, Boris Loundine, Rachel Lowenstein, Catalina Lozano, Hugo Luczyc-Wyhowski, Flore Luquet, Laurence Lustyk, David Lynch, Bania Madjbar, Krzysztof Majchrzak, Velipekka Makkonen, Laurent Malet, Tim Malieckal, Guy Malugani, Erling Mandelmann, Michael Mann, Alessandro Marcelli, Yvon Marciano, François Margolin, Joseph Marin, Jean-Pierre Marois, Tonie Marshall, Alain Martin, Sandrine Martin, Danielle Martinetti, Florent Martinez, Didier Martiny, Mario Martone, Thierry Mathelin, Christine Mathis, Esmeralda Mattei, Nicolas Mauvernay, Yannick Mazet, Christopher, Spencer et Claire Mc Andrew, Natalie Mei, Michelle Géranium Melman-Gory, Guillermo Menaldi, Mathieu Mercier, Muriel Mercier, Frédéric Mermoud, Nicolas Mesdom, Laura Metaxa, Allison Michel, Radu Mihaileanu, Anna Mikropoulou, Jean-Louis Milesi, Claude Miller, Lionel Miniato, Eric Miot, Bernard Mirgain, Annie Misserey, Nelly Moaligou, Jean – Marc Modeste , Mario Monicelli, Miguel Morales, Jeanne Moreau, Frédéric Moreau, Sarah Moreau-Flament, Gael Morel, Omayra Muñiz Fernández, Carmen Munoz, Stephanie Murat, Christian Mvogo Mbarga, Tim Myers, Anna N.Levine, Elisabeth Nègre Charles Nemes, Florence Nicolas, Juliette Nicolas-Donnard, Sandra Nicolier, Edouard Niermans, Rachel Noël, Rui Nogueira, Olivier Nolin, Alejandra Norambuena Skira, Anna Nordahl, Fabrice Nordmann, Fabrice O. Joubert, Marc Obéron, Michel Ocelot, David Ogando, Mariana Oliveira Santos, Szentgyörgyi Ottó, Martine Pagès, Eric Pape, Vincent Pappalardo, Nadia Paschetto, Abner Pastoll, Alexander Payne, Guy Péchard, Nicola Pecorini, Richard Pena (Directeur Festival de NY), Lindsey Pence, Olivier Père, Suzana Peric, Vladimir Perisic, Jacques Perrin, Cesare Petrillo, Thomas Pibarot, Michel Piccoli, Arnaud Pierrichon, Stéphane Pietri, Anne Pigeon Bormans, Samuel Pinon, Claude Pinoteau, Jean Piva, Guillaume Pixie Michele Placido, Sabrina Poidevin, Agnès Catherine Poirier, Emmanuel Pollaud-Dulian, Maud Pommier-Samaan, Jean-Yves Potel, Stéphane Pozderec, Harry Prenger, Jean et Marie Prévost, Gilbert Primet, Stefanos Psaromiligas, Florence Quentin, Marie-Hélène Raby, Philippe Radault, Tristan Rain, Florence Raphaël, Jean-Paul Rappeneau, Joseph Rassam, Rolandas Rastauskas, Brett Ratner, Raphael Rebibo, Redha, Ben Omar Redouan, Carol Reid, Dusan Reljin, Jo Reymen, Laurence Reymond, Yasmina Reza, Christiane Rhein, Jacques Richard, Dominique Robert, Margarita Robski, Jean-Jacques Rochut, Christian Rogler, Yannick Rolandeau, Michèle Rollin Paul Rondags, Avital Ronell, Frank Roozendaal, Graciela Rosato, michèle Rossi-Ducci Elisabeth Roudinesco, Kontochristopoulou Roula, Laurence Roulet, Joshua Rout, Paolo Roversi, Didier Roy, Jacques Rozier, Charles Rubinstein, Isabelle Ruh, Martin Ruhe, Sonia Rykiel, Anita S. Chang, Esteban S. Goffin, Joaquin Sabina, Marc Saffar, Ludivine Sagnier, Gabriela Salazar Scherman, Walter Salles, Jean-Paul Salomé, Jean-Frédéric Samie, Marc Sandberg, Léo Scalpel, Jerry Schatzberg, Richard Schlesinger, Kirstin Schlotter, Daniel Schmidt, Georg Schmithüsen, Julian Schnabel, Pierre Schoendoerffer, Barbet Schroeder, J. Neil Schulman, Pierre Schumacher, Pierre-Alexandre Schwab, Ettore Scola, Luis Gustavo Sconza Zaratin Soares, Martin Scorsese, Carole Scotta, Steven Sedgwick, Andrea Sedlackova, Frank Segier, Michèle Seguin-Sirhugue, Guy Seligmann, Dominique Sels, Elis Semczuk, Lorenzo Semple Jr, Julien Seri, Joël Séria, Catherine Sermet, Olivier Séror, Ken Seton-Vyhnal, Sophie Sharkov, Boris Shlafer, Antoine Silber, Pierre Silvant, Charlotte Silvera, Noel Simsolo, Christophe Sirodeau, Philippe Sisbane Abderrahmane Sissako, Beatrice Sisul , Petter Skavlan, Romain Slocombe, Marcin Sokolowski, Loïc Sorel, Paolo Sorrentino, Valérie Soulier, Vassilis Sourapas, Yannis Stavrou, Roch Stephanik, Karen Stetler, Denise Stieglitz, Guillaume Stirn, Bernard Stora, Gérard Stum, Jean-Marc Surcin, Tilda Swinton, Piotrek Szymanek, Jean-Charles Tacchella, Radovan Tadic, Mickael Tanguy, Danis Tanovic, Bertrand Tavernier, André Techiné, Katie Teece Cécile Telerman, Harold Alvarado Tenorio, Marie-Ange Terrier, Alain Terzian, Christian Texier, Jean-Paul Thaens, Valentine Theret, Virginie Thévenet, Alexandre Thiery, Jacques Thivierge, Pascal Thomas, Jeremy Thomas, Marc Thomas Charley, Cyril Thurston, Giuseppe Tornatore, Serge Tosca Cali Tosca Serge Toubiana, Walter Toubin, Jean-Luc Touillon, Maurizio Trani, Daniel Treichler, Nadine Trintignant, Claire Tromeur Fernando Trueba, Julie Turcas, Mitja Tušek, Tom Tykwer, Alexandre Tylski, Stephen Ujlaki, José Antonio Valdés Peña, Kenny Valdisserri, Jaques Vallotton, Phil van der Linden, Betrand van Effenterre, Leopold van Genechten, Christophe van Rompaey, Dorna van Rouveroy, Elbert van Strien, Vangelis, Alessio Vannetti, Jean-Pierre Vaucouloux Lucília Verdelho da Costa, Christian Verdu, Jean-Pierre Vergne, Sarah Vermande, Maryana Vestic, Julien Veyret, Caroline Veyssière, Francesco Vezzoli, Régine Vial, Daniel Vigne Vivien Villani, Marta Villarroya Estruch, Marc Villemain, Jean-François Villemer, Daria Vinault, Verde Visconti, Alain Vorimore, Thomas Vossart, Gilles Walusinski, Eric Watton, Lioba Wehinger, Monika Weibel, Florian Weigl, Dominique Welinski, Wim Wenders, Raphaël Wertheimer, Andy Whittaker, Cornélius Wiijgers, Dorothée Wiijgers, Anaïse Wittmann, A Wolanin, Margot Wolfs, Peter Woltil, Arnaud Xainte, Steve Yeo, Likhem Young, Paule Zajdermann, Christian Zeender, Claudie Zehnacker, Fabrice Ziolkowski, Terry Zwigoff

And the following professional organizations

– l’Académie des César (French Film Academy)
– l’API (Association des producteurs Indépendants) (Association of Independent Producers)
– l’ARP
– l’ARRF – Association des Réalisateurs et réalisatrices de Films – Belgique (Belgian Association of Filmmakers)
– la Cinémathèque Française
– la Cinémathèque de Dijon / Cinémathèque Jean Douchet
– le Festival de Cannes
– le Festival des Rencontres internationales du cinéma de patrimoine de Vincennes
– le Fonds Culturel Franco Américain
– le Groupe 25 images
– Members of the European Producers Club
– la SACD
– Le Bureau National du SFA
– le SPI
– Le Syndicat National des Techniciens de la Production Cinématographique et de Télévision (National Union of Film and Television Technicians)
– l’Union des producteurs de films
– The crew of Polanski’s latest film, Ghost
– Pathé

And here is another “Free Polanski” petition, this one organized by writer/philosopher Bernard-Henri Lévy.

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70 comments

bird -

i’m ashamed and sickened. i honestly don’t know what to say, except for i almost feel let down. it just makes you sick to your stomach to see so many people that you gathered so much inspiration from dissapoint you in such a vile way.
i’m not sure if i should say i expected better from a lot of these people. i just can’t comprehend how you can just so willingly run to the aid of a man who raped a child. and seeing people in the comments try to defend him as well by saying the girl was mature for her age? i can only wish you all the worst, and i hope you come to feel deeply ashamed.
this is all very upsetting to hear.

Craig -

Whatever transgressions the judge may have committed are irrelevant next to the drugging and repeated anal raping of a child. It is also irrelevant that she may have dressed “grown up” or even if she had engaged in intimacy with boys of her age. It is also irrelevant if her mother was trying to vicariously enjoy a brush with stardom.
Polanski raped a thirteen year old girl and fled justice. His comments on the subject indicate no remorse and in fact seem to indicate a perverse (of course) pride in his engaging in satisfying his twisted appetites.
I don’t know what the rationals might be for those who seek his pardoning, be it moral ambiguity, sycophancy, going along with what they see as “hip” or simply the belief that the group they belong to is somehow superior and has a right to use “common” people for their own amusement, but it would be a mistake to give the law a pass to accommodate this utterly reprehensible man.
At the end of the day Polanski fled not because of a legal transgression on the part of the California justice system but because he thinks he’s above the law and does not have to answer to a code of ethics that conflicts with his selfish and perverse tastes.
He’s an old man now and probably won’t be causing much more trouble so I don’t know how much in the way of resources we should spend trying to extradite him so that he can spend his dotage in one of our nicer minimum security prisons . We should not however allow him to ever enter this country again.
As for those listed above, their association with this ill-conceived effort will always taint my opinion of them and while I don’t necessarily agree that viewing CHINATOWN condones pedophilia there is a certain “stink” that hangs over anything associated with Roman Polanski and to a degree that “stink” will rub off on the signatures above.

Val -

“the uber leftist oh so talented equivocators make me want to hurl. What happened to the feminists?”

Wow, Laslavic- you are one classy guy!(/sarcasm)

If you knew any feminists, you’d know that most, if not all, are on your side in this particular case (although probably for very different reasons). Unfortunately, your misogynist ramblings likely lead most women (people) to avoid you, so you wouldn’t know.

And, to anyone calling this a case of “morals”:

This is not an example of American Puritanical values gone wrong. Unless the Puritans secretly championed the rights and autonomy of women. (They didn’t).

Women, girls, PEOPLE having a RIGHT to say what happens to their own bodies is NOT a moral issue, it is a human rights issue. Yes other people get away with this. That does not make what Polanski did any better. Perhaps the judge got away with what Polanski was accused of. That does not make what he did any better. Yes, there are other problems plaguing the world. This does not make what Polanski did any better!

Finally, to those of you suggesting that Polanski got unfair treatment:

I suggest you follow up on watching documentaries with some actual research on the justice system in Los Angeles County. If you are rich, white, and especially if you are famous, the system in extremely biased in your favor. To suggest that Polanski was treated “unfairly” in LA of all places is laughable.

Jeff -

Wow! It is amazing at all of the people that dont care that a 13 year old girl was raped. If he was some crack head living in harlem and raped a girl would the same supporters come to the rescue? The fact is that he raped her and pled guilty. He fled the conviction. She forgave him yes… but the law does not forgive. What kind of message are we sending to all of the other 13 year old girls out there that have been raped? You people that support this kind of act should be ashamed of yourselves. It makes me sad to know so many people who I look up to in the field of the arts are supporters of rape…

Thomas Smith -

I was looking for the petition to sign, but here’s my comment: LEAVE THE POOR GUY ALONE. HE’S SUFFERED ENOUGH. GET YOUR VICARIOUS, HYSTERICAL SADISTIC FANTASIES OFF OF ROMAN POLANSKI AND BURN A CROSS ON SOMEBODY ELSE’S LAWN.

Phil -

1. The case is not a case of morals. Laws – rape (statutory or otherwise) and escape from justice – have been broken.

2. International film events are not extraterritorial in nature – only diplomatic missions are extraterritorial, and even diplomats are triable and punishable for crimes in a foreign country once they are sent back to their countries. The petitioners clearly consider themselves diplomats, which they are not. The fact that filmmakers may present their work and travel freely and safely at and to film events, as every person may do at and to other unrestricted public properties, does not make them diplomats.

3. The fact that Switzerland is a neutral country does not make it a lawless country. Its neutrality applies in times of war and peace, not in the application of treaty and criminal laws. Its war neutrality does not preclude it from signing a necessary extradition treaty with another country. The fact that Polanski ‘assumed that he could travel without hindrance’ shows only his blatant disregard for the law of any country. Everyone, including he, knew that once he was outside France and Poland (due to French and Polish laws), any country may arrest and extradite him under its own laws.

4. Any notion that because a person puts up a huge bail, s/he definitely will not flee is an utter fallacy, whether or not in view of past conduct.

5. US-French relations have nothing to do with Polanski drugging and raping a child.

One would think that these filmmakers have enough money to hire a proper lawyer to draft their petition, if they were serious about it.

Mike -

My level of disgust at the people who express disgust at the signatories of the Polanski petitioni and then go off sounding more deranged and more dangerous than Polanski could ever be is too strong for me to express in mere words. So, I helped Polanski rape someone because I’ve watched Chinatown about a dozen times. Insanity. Madness.

I hope all of you outraged ones stay away from children everywhere. I certainly wouldn’t allow any of you to get near my daughter.

Spaz -

My level of disgust for these petitions cannot even be fully expressed. Strip polanski of his resume and he is a man. A man that raped a child. Should this even be up for discussion? He raped a child. He drugged a child. He engaged in non-consenting sex acts with a child. Argue all you want, I don’t know ANY 13 year old girls who can hold there Quaaludes & champagne AND still say yes to having sex with a sick, dirty old man. Everytime you pop in Rosemary’s baby or Chinatown think about how YOU helped commit the rape of a 13 year old girl.

lorena -

this is the veiw of a 14 year old.
i do realize that no ones is going to take me seriously,but here it goes anyways.
when i was 13 started having desires for older men,anywhere up to their 40’s.it became my prefrence since then.i never actually had sex with someone above that age,it was just sort of a forbidden fantasy to me.im was 13,not 5,so i knew better then to act on it,as much as some adults say teenagers dont “know better” yeah,they do.

but this summer,when right when i turned 14 i gave in and had sex with a 27 year old man. i was somewhat “sexually active” at that time but still a virgin.
i feel ashamed sometimes,like a complete whore.but it was of my consent.so i sucked it up,and i never told anyone.if someone were to find out,there is no doubt id say its rape.

its shameful,to say that i consented it.
so roman polanski is sayong it was consensual,and i have no reason to disbeleive him.no one was there,to know the exact facts.

but the fact that he drugged her,and had anal sex with her ruins it.
so dont free him :)

Kwarive -

First off Mr. Polanski did not rape anyone. He admitted to unlawfully having sex as part of a plea bargain the judge tried to renege on. This girl was very sexually mature for her age, even the judge said “the prosecutrix was a well-developed young girl, who looked older than her years, and regrettably not unschooled in sexual matters.” This was clearly a case of consensual sexual relations

Those of you who think this is the same as rape should watch Oleanna.

Can any of you remember what you were like at 13? I know I was thinking about sex pretty much 90% of the time. Many 13 year olds – boys and girls- have sex and very often with those older than them. Whether its 5 years or 20 years is irrelevant. The issue is ‘effective consent’ not whether you like or dislike someones sexual preference or activity.

Free Roman Polanski.

julie -

Great.. I just went through my Netflix queue and carefully combed out all movies affiliated with any of these people. And I still have a good lot of movies to see. It feels GOOD. This will not be a problem to keep up… I will soon be very familiar with the names on the list, I’ll just cross-check any movie I think about renting or seeing in the theater.
They protect their own, I protect my own.

Linda Mancusi -

Who gives a shit? I do along with those who loves
children. Even at 13, a child does not have
the mindset to handle this cituation in a mature
fashion.
It is immaterial as to the occupation of the
offender.
Those that signed the petition, I would
like to see where they end up.

L. C. Avery -

I’d say that a number of these (American) one-hit wonders and struggling Indie folks appear to want to install themselves in more-accomplished company.

Too bad they’re selling their souls to be there.

johanna -

Some people on other blogs I’ve read suggested to “separate the person from his work” since many artist have personalities or values that aren’t charming. Where does the quest for boycott end? I disagree. Personally, I can live with a Hugh Grant who got a blow-job from a prostitute. None of my business. I could enjoy Sean Connery’s work, even though he apparently doesn’t have a problem with slapping a woman. I might not like it, but I can separate the man from his work. Basically, it all comes down to your threshold of pain. To me, child abuse is the where I will absolutely put my line in the sand. It is the most vicious, sickening and coward action, to attack a young child. To not feel remorse. To not face your own actions but run away when you don’t like the consequences. We have a duty to protect the innocence of children. Once again, shame on all who signed this petition and feel Polanski shouldn’t be punished!

India Meesig -

Is this a world gone mad!!! This man drugged and raped a thirteen (13) year old girl. Admitted to the crime and fled the country. He declared himself above the law and thumbed his nose at the victim and her family.You can, in your right mind support him? What preyytell has he done for you that you would abandon your senses in this way. whats more would you be alright with this man if he raped your little sister?Your daughter. I am sure his methods may have changed but sex offenders rarely offend just once. He would just be more careful.There are men who go unrevealed for years, even die before anyone finds out about them and here you have a man who was exposed and you support him?Yes he should be free to continue to do what he likes. Why not invite him over to babysit your beautuful young daughters,neices,sisters.You should all be ashamed.

Aaron A. -

What is the big deal about the Reverend Polanski?
Many other priests have committed this sort of crime, and they are dealt with most liberally.
Is Father Polanski any different?
Why should he be treated any differently from other members of the clergy?
Just because he made a few “hollywood” films, should he somehow be judged more severely or liberally than the others?
I mean, he IS a priest in the Catholic church is he not? Or do I have him confused with some other child-molesting priest?
I say treat them all equally!

Sadiel Cuentas -

I’m deeply disappointed in the people that signed this shameful petition.

Lynda -

I have copied this list so that I can keep it for all time (yes, I hold a grudge a long, long, time). I will never ever spend another cent on anything you folks are in, or have participated in or come even close to being involved in.

I will spread this list to every friend I have, and post it on Facebook and many other social sites.

The bottom line is that in this country we face justice. If this was some normal guy from the streets of Chicago you would all be calling for his head. There is no one who is so talented that deserve to walk from something like this (and he’s been walking for 30 years)

julie -

ArtMoscow: Breathtaking, your self-delusion. Even after Mary posted the facts of the case, you still call this a bloodhunt. Let me enlighten you: This was a common criminal apprehension. That he happened to be a director you like does not change it.

julie -

K, Uhlman, please don’t get all “circus of blood” here. Really, you are worse than the most rabid of Polanski’s detractors. This is actually a very civil process being carried out in regards to someone who did a very uncivil thing.

julie -

Jarre, actually, he pretty much did admit to raping her. He never contested that his victim told him “no” repeatedly, or that he drugged her. He only confessed to a lesser charge through a plea agreement. As to the victim wanting to drop the case, it is because she is tired of all the publicity her family gets every time Polanski whines about not being able to go to a certain country to film. BTW, courts do not drop cases because victims want them dropped. Or else every case involving Stockholm Syndrome would never be tried.

julie -

Linda, what you think should happen and what is mandated by law are two very different things. And please don’t take the whole “But but he’s so charming and he gives to charity!” defense. Because you know, rapists are never charming, are they? I mean, Ted Bundy… oh. never mind.

julie -

Vangelis, “By trying to send Roman Polanski to the lions despite all the legal arguments, is something that unfortunately gets and will get more and more out of proportion. It will be much wiser, less obstinate and more generous to leave this exceptional man alone. Dear Roman you have my full support.”
Defending Polanski in the face of his full admission of drugging and raping a 13 year-old, fleeing charges because he thought he was too important to face the consequences of his actions, boasting to Martin Amis that “EVERYONE wants to F*** little girls!” and complaining how HE is the victim (in true sociopathic form) by not being able to work in Hollywood for 30 years, while never ONCE saying that what he did was unfathomably wrong, has nothing of importance to say about humanity.
Sure, admire his work. But stop with the pathetic kowtowing to a predator, please.

Lisa -

For those of you who support Mr. Polanski, have you never considered that he has likely perpretrated the same things against some other young victim as he did Ms. Gailey? The man has no remorse for what he did as evidenced by interviews he has given. I urge you to read the full transcript of Ms. Gailey’s testimony! This man should never have been allowed to go free without punishment…and 45 days of evaluation does not constitute punishment! I sympathize with Ms. Gailey’s feelings, however, this man should not be free to victimize other children. Ask any rape victim and we will tell you that we would give anything if the rapist had been prosecuted and locked up forever before we were victimized by them! What was done to that 13 year old victim should not be perpetrated on any child. It was not just statutory rape, it was rape-rape because she said no!

Jason West -

It will not be difficult to boycott most of the names on this list as it appears 90% of them are from France and are friends of the scumbag and amongst the more memorable supporters is woody allen, recognizable from his own torrid past. I am not surprised to see the murderer John Landes on the list and any of the names that I do recognize, you can rest assured that they will not get my patronage in the future from any of their future endeavors. Will this effect them? Probably not but I will feel good about myself. And miss Caryn Elaine Johnson, I used to have a lot of respect for you, no more….no more.

Jason West

Diane Eleveld -

Polanski is a child rapist probably a serial child rapist. The above people think it’s OK to rape children if you make good films.

boycott one boycott all -

I propose a boycott of all films and books and plays and machinery created by all those people listed here. And I propose a boycott of all those individuals (and their businesses) who supported the illegal and murderous war in Iraq.. Let’s show we really care about children! You know how many children have been blown to pieces in Iraq as a result of allied bombings?
Let’s go folks!! Let’s boycott one, let’s boycott all!!!

Linda -

The criminal case should be settled without any jail time. Mr. Polanski is not a threat to anyone. He is not a sexual predator – he is a now a philanthropist. From what is known about the criminal proceedings, it seems the judge was basking in the limelight and behaved outragously thus the entire case should be tossed.

He should not have to go on trial again for a 30 year old statutory rape, but should have to answer to the flight.

California turns people loose that are highly likely to offend again due to space and budgetary issues. What purpose does it serve to lock up Mr. Polanski when the prison space could be used to protect the public from violent offenders?

What he did over 30 years ago was wrong, but the fact that the victim received a civil settlement and doe not want the matter pursued means the case should be dropped.

Deb -

I plan to try very hard to never see any work done by anyone who signed this petition. He is a child rapist and he needs to pay for his crime. Shame on all of you.

ago -

We worship/ed those artists just as they worship Polanski. The only difference is we’ve come to our senses while they haven’t!

K, Uhlman -

Michael Mann, Tilda Swinton, Vangelis, Christophe Barratier, Lynch, Scorsese, Allen, Louis Garrel, Ludivine, the divine Jeanne Moreau. I love you and respect you more than ever.
Thank you for not allowing the blood thirsty mob to prevent you from doing what you believe to be right. I have read the facts and testimonies of the case. I have also read the “facts’ spred online. Those people don’t want justice or protection of children. They want a circus of blood.
THANK YOU FOR STANDING UP TO THEM

banana -

I have too much to say to put it in a short comment – but I have posted on this issue on my personal blog :

But it seems to me that Hollywood must be a very dangerous place for a child these days as so many of its big names appear to endorse paedophilic activity. A shameful chapter indeed – let us hope it will soon be brought to a close.

Steve -

Hollywood shows its true face!

Protecting one of its own, even one who has openly admitted to carrying out such despicable acts.

These people who hold such power over the media, have a duty to defend the victim not this unrepentant, repulsive excuse for of a man.

If Hollywood has grown so insular from and arrogant to society at large, its time they were knocked down a peg or two.

Please somebody start a petition against Roman Polanski and the rest of his kin.

Maralago -

I’m a liberal, I work at a major studio. I will never again be able to speak to, or look at, Mike Nichols, Jonathan Demme, Martin Scorsese or any of the other names I recognize here without wanting to scream obscenities at them. Polanski drugged a 13 year old girl and forced his penis in her anus – is that too ugly? Prefer the fantasy of one his films? Just as astonishing is Sharon Tate’s sister – a supposed “victim’s advocate” saying Polanski is a “lovely man” and should be free. Gee, she got so uptight about cancer-adled, bedridden Sharon Atkins potential release saying she hadn’t paid for her crime (and I agree, by the way). But like so many narcissistic and selfish Americans, a crime is only a crime when it happens to YOU, screw everyone else. I can’t wait to get out of this f**ed up town.

Nicole -

Sari, to quote you: “If Polanski had killed the girl instead of raping her, the whole matter would have been forgotten long ago…”

Forgotten like Sharon Tate?

In what world would murder be forgotten? Shocking what your statement implies…

If Polanski had faced his sentence 30 years ago, we’d have forgotten HIM and the victim wouldn’t have to relive it now.

Sarah -

He never even apologized to the woman. What a sad coward.

Amy Richards -

I live in LA, I’m a liberal, and I am appalled by the signatures of people whose work I respect on the petition.

Roman Polanski has been a fugitive from justice for 30 years and it is time he manned up and dealt with the situation. Making good films does not exempt you from the law.

Polanski was originally indicted for 4 felonies, and the girl agreed to have him plea guilty to statutory rape in order to avoid the circus of the trial. If Polanski had attended his sentencing hearing instead of fleeing the country, the whole thing would have been over after he’d served his time. By his cowardice and lack of morality he has kept the case and the pain of his victim alive all this time. No one should have pity for him – his “suffering” is completely self-inflicted.

looloopoo -

“The man is an animal and a coward. He’s an animal because of what he did to a child; he’s a coward because he didn’t take his punishment like a man with character.

I am thoroughly disgusted by the world’s film community for supporting him just because he makes good movies. I understand that Hitler was a good painter…Maybe we shouldn’t have closed in on and bombed his bunker because good painters are a treasure.”

Elizabeth -

W. and others have committed terrible crimes and gone unpunished. This submitted as a defense of a man who drugs and rapes a child?

Would the signatories of this list have us serve up children for them to rape and defile at their pleasure because, well, W. is a really bad man?

Perhaps we can send the children of the signatories of this petition over to Roman so he can drug and sodomize them, as I’m sure this whole “unfortunate” arrest business has him very stressed, and clearly in the opinion of the aforementioned signatories, such a “genius” deserves to do whatever he wants whenever he wants.

ArtMoscow -

Wow, this is maybe the finest list of people that I’ve ever seen. I express my deepest respect to those who were brave enough to sign the petition and withstand the blood-seeking mob.
Mike Nichols, David Lynch, Ethan Coen, Bernardo Bertolucci, Martin Scorsese, Jeremy Irons, Tilda Swinton, Terry Gilliam, Emir Kusturica, Wim Wenders and many, many others, I love you even more!
FREE ROMAN POLANSKI!

Mary -

thesmokinggun.com/archive/polanskicover1.html

Details of the assault. Read and educate yourself.

Mary -

thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2009/0928091polanskiplea1.html

His plea is on page 12: Do you understand the judge has not made any decision?

“yes”

‘Do you understand the court will make no decision regarding probation and sentencing until the judge reads all of the reports’

“Yes”

‘Do you understand at the time of your sentencing, the prosecutor may argue that you should go to state prison or be incarcerated in the county jail?”

“Yes”

(to Polanski’s attorney)” Have you explained to your client all of the possible outcomes? (Page 13)

“Yes”

“On march 13, 1977, the day you had sexual intercourse… how old did you believe her to be?”

Polanski: “She was 13.”

Page 14

“Are you pleading guilty Freely and voluntarily?”

“yes”

Page 15
“Under 1192.5 of the Penal Code that the approval of the Court to the plea is not binding to the Court….. (that the court may change the terms upon further review…)”…… How do you plead to this felony?

Polanski: “Guilty”

Mary -

He drugged, anally raped, performed unwanted oral sex and vaginally raped a THIRTEEN year old GIRL… a CHILD. Read the unsealed records at the smoking gun. Roman Polanski is an ADMITTED child rapist. A pedophile. He must be brought to justice.

emmo -

Hey Llaslavic,

Feminist here! Also an artist and a film lover. Believe it or not, I believe that you and I agree. Anyone whose name is on this petition, is supporting an admitted (he did admit it) rapist/child molester. The girl said “no” many times.

Sari – where are you – pay attention to this part: If you support a child rapist and decide it is not important enough to enforce laws regarding such a crime, then as a society you CONDONE that crime. That’s why even though there are many other bad things in the world, this one IS important.

If you’re not going to enforce laws, then what’s the point in having any? Shall we all rape, murder, steal, defraud etc. because it’s just too banal and trivial to enforce our laws?

Don’t worry YM, I didn’t forget you. Actually, the film “Wanted and Desired” has notable inaccuracies and neglects to include the grand jury testimony which is readily available to the public. Too icky, I suppose to add the details of your purported hero’s heinous crime.

But this is the most important part YM: Accusing the judge of things and the girl of things and feminists and lactose intolerant people and etc. etc. etc. means nothing. Only one person’s behaviour is at issue here, Roman Polanski and he deserves to be in prison because he drugged, then raped, then sodomized a 13 year old girl despite her pleas for him to stop.

Laslavic -

Go ahead delete my anti hollywood post I feel better for posting it even if I already knew only equivocators and apologist for polanski need post

Laslavic -

the uber leftist oh so talented equivocators make me want to hurl. What happened to the feminists? Hiding under the same moldy rock they hid under during the OJ trial? Now if the guy was a Duke Lacrosse player the hollywierd crowd and hordes of valueless eurotrash signing their souls…as if they have them away on these tacky petitions…now that would get them riled up

Charlie -

He is a convicted child molestor. It is sad that these people think Polanski is above the law!!

T -

I’m so glad Roman has so many supporters that he can rape and sodomize, but are any of you 13 because that’s target age we need. Please don’t stop here, the penal system is full of people that can only get it up when they force barely pubescent kids. High recidivism can’t be an excuse to keep these people locked up, all victims will come forward if it happens again, and we don’t need to pay any heed Kinski’s real birth certificate.

YM -

You should watch “Roman Polanski Wanted or Desired.”
The judge in Polanski’s case acted like a common crook. He should have been prosecuted as well, even if no teenagers were involved in his misdeeds. He never was. The judge certainly didn’t give A DAMN about the girl. Just ask her.
But then again, the judge apparently liked some very young women as well. Do a search online and you’ll find the filmmaker’s site for the film.
People keep affirming that Polanski did this and did that as if they were there at the time. Every story has more than one side. That type of self-righteousness is sickening and even more dangerous than what Polanski did because it affects society as a whole, whether the issue is rape or anything else.

abc -

“His plea bargain didn’t fall apart. The judge went back on his word because he was afriad of public opinion like yours.

Roman was charged with sex with minor, not real rape. He never admited to raping anyone.”

Not real rape? Drugging a girl, disregarding her repeated “No”, her faking an asthma attack to get him to stop is not real rape? He plead guilty to a lesser charge of unlawful sex with a minor because he knew they had enough evidence to fry his ass if it went to trial. Furthermore, plea bargains are totally up to the judge, if he felt the deal was too lenient than he was perfectly in his legal right to not honor the deal.

Kim Preston -

The talent of Roman Polanski is not questioned. Why, however, any of you think that this somehow excuses the fact that the man drugged and raped a child is beyond me. I find it hard to believe that you would find it an acceptable excuse if it was your child who was sodomized.

Mr. Polanksi should have long since addressed the matter. Any improper actions of the court in this case were long ago exposed and could be addressed at trial. But apparently, you artists aren’t supposed to be subjected to the rules and expectations we mere mortals face.

I know it won’t matter one iota to many of you, which is fine, but I am one person who will do her best to avoid any of your work. I don’t wish to admire anyone who has such a twisted sense of values.

Sari -

If Polanski had killed the girl instead of raping her, the whole matter would have been forgotten long ago…
The victim wants the case dropped, but oh no. The mob wants revenge. The whole world will be so much safer if Polanski ends his days behind bars. Can’t think of a bigger threat to our planet just now.

Rod -

Seems strange that people on this board try to make some justification for Polanski out of bad things going unpunished elsewhere. That’s always going to be true, but we should keep trying to do the right thing. The “right thing” is different for different people. Some think that sex with a child is a crime not just against the child, but against society. I happen to believe that.

Rox -

Woody Allen supports him–big shocker (the guy who is now married to the woman who was essentially his stepdaughter). I don’t know if you are really helping his case, Woody. Polanski is a child molester. He should be in jail.

Andrea -

I am deeply saddened to see so many of my cinematic heroes supporting Polanski. I too have loved many of his films, and consider him a great artist – but that doesn’t excuse his crime. He sodomized a child, and then fled the country – at what point does this become ok with people. Part of me feels extreme disgust right now because I think that the pass many are giving to Polanski is a reflection of a misogynistic culture that deep down believes a woman (or in this case, a girl) always wants it. I wonder how these signers would feel if it was one of their kids? SHAME on you Wes Anderson!

Rozanne -

A 13-year-old cannot give consent to have sex with an adult male. She is not an adult. She is a child. If he believed her to be old enough, why did he drug her? I admire Mr. Polanski’s work. He is a great artist, no doubt about it, but he commited a crime against a child and needs to be prosecuted.

YM -

His plea bargain didn’t fall apart. The judge went back on his word because he was afriad of public opinion like yours.

Roman was charged with sex with minor, not real rape. He never admited to raping anyone.

greg -

Roman Polanski committed several horrific crimes over the course of several hours, admitted his guilt, then fled the country when his plea bargain fell apart.

How is this even up for debate? He raped a child! There is absolutely no defense to be offered.

Everyone signing this list should be ashamed of themselves.

Nihal -

jarre and diana, the point that polanski never admitted to raping anyone is a big problem here. and what does this have to do with children in other countries being raped and starved to death, jarre? do you see anyone saying that’s ok? actually, it is the people who think that someone who is a famous white male should get away with this that concerns me. furthermore, the reason the victim wants the charges to be dropped is because this case has been haunting her since she was 13- she is in her 40’s now and she wants to get on with her life. if i was in her position, i would say anything as well. polanski never openly apologized and the only reason why this case has dragged on for so long is because polanski denied raping her and skipped town. only to seduce a 15-year old nastassia kinski two years later– when he was 46. had he handled this differently, the victim would have been able to put this trauma behind her when she was still a teenager. he not only victimized her when she was 13 by being so selfish, he has been victimzing her for more than 30 years afterwards.

Johanna -

Please! That doesn’t change the fact that mr Polanski is a scumbag and a halve who drugged and raped a child when he was 44, fled the country to live in France where he continued to make movies, live a good life etc. None of what you say changes the gravity of this case and with a lot of crimes the law also operates apart from
the victims opinion, in case of Stockholm syndrome or whatever. Polanski showed not even the slightest sign of regret, but stated in an interview that ‘everybody wants to sleep with young girls’ or whatever. He should be brought to justice. Also to send out the right signal to society.

Renata -

I was referring to this comment

“Artists are not above the law in any country.”

If only the same were true of politicians, the military, the “justice” establishment, and the multibillionaire elite.

Diana -

So many people seem to be against Mr. Polanski. It’s not that people are not aware of the charges. More important than the DA, his flight from the US or his abominable behavior is the FACT that the young lady in question would like this to finished forever. She has had to hear about this, talk about this, show up for the DA, etc, and frankly, after 30 years and your entire adult life having to talk about how you were raped when you were a teenager, I would want the whole thing dropped as well. At this point, they won’t be helping to heal the situation, nor will they vindicate this woman’s suffering at his hands. She has forgiven him. I think her opinion is the ONLY one that counts.

kravitz -

Artists are not above the law in any country.

rebecca -

Are you kidding me? I understand that there seems to have been a biased judge in the original case. That does not change that he committed statutory rape against a 13 year old, drugged her, and fled the country.

It’s despicable that some Hollywood stars would rather support a pedophile then uphold a serious charge such as rape of an underage girl.

Riley -

Polanski raped a 13 year old girl and skipped out on the sentencing … he should rot in jail for a long time.

Polanski has not served his time and now he is guilty of evading justice. He is not a good man.

Claire -

Jarre, he admitted to sleeping with a 13 year old child, whose age he knew. That is automatically rape as a child cannot give informed consent. Its called “statutory RAPE” for a reason. That is even ignoring the evidence that his victim gave to the grand jury that he got her alone under the pretense of taking her photo (for Vanity Fair I think), gave her alcohol and drugs and when she said no to him even after all that he went ahead and raped her orally, vaginally and anally.

Absolutely despicable by each and every one of these people who signed this petition. I can only hope they are not aware of the full allegations.

Let him go in front of the courts in the US. He & his friends will be able to afford the best lawyers. If he gets off on some technicality or is given a non custodial age due to age or the pleas of the victim or even the terms of the original plea bargain than so be it. Justice at least will have run its course.

Jarre -

Actually Polanski never admitted to raping anyone. The charges against him were for having sex with a minor, even if consensual — a moral charge, as is stated in the petition.

Even the girl — now a woman — who accused Polanski of rape says the case should be dropped. But the Moral Police of the World wants blood. How else will they have their entertainment?

Well, so do I. And not just when it comes to lurid, sex-laced cases, but that seems all most people care about. Children are abused, murdered, go hungry every day. Who among the Moral Police gives a shit?

Johanna -

Sickening. He admitted to raping a child at the age of 13, fled the country and lived like a King in France, and he shouldn’t be punished because… he makes good movies??? Are you celebrity/entertainment people think you’re above the law? Do you have kids??? I hope he finally gets his punishment and for the ones who signed this list: I’m avoiding your work from now on! Hope Polanski gets his!

VANGELIS -

Jetter Roman Polanski aux lions malgré les arguments legaux, cela prendra des proportions de plus en plus exagerés. Laissez cet homme exceptionel tranquil; ça sera plus raisonable, moins obstiné et plus généreux. Cher Roman tu as mon support total.

VANGELIS -

By trying to send Roman Polanski to the lions despite all the legal arguments, is something that unfortunately gets and will get more and more out of proportion. It will be much wiser, less obstinate and more generous to leave this exceptional man alone. Dear Roman you have my full support.

Comments are closed.

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