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Poles Rally to Polanski's Defence
Staff journalist | 28th September 2009

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Minister appeals for clemency

A number of high-placed Poles leapt to the defence of Roman Polanski after the arrest of the director in Switzerland on 26 September.

The film-maker, who holds dual Polish and French nationality, is considered one of the outstanding figures to have emerged from Poland's Film School in Łódź.

Several of Polanski's peers from the cinematic world, including Oscar-winner Andrzej Wajda and Agnieszka Holland, have appealed on behalf of the director of Chinatown and The Pianist.

In the political sphere, Defence Minister Radek Sikorski has stated that he will be making a joint appeal for clemency with French Minister Bernard Kouchner. Meanwhile, former President Francois Mitterand was swift to voice his dismay about the arrest.

Polanski was apprehended at Zurich airport, on his way to receive an award for his lifetime achievement in film. The arrest concerns a charge of unlawful sex dating from 1978, involving a then 13-year-old American girl. Polanski fled the States in 1979, before the case was ultimately settled, and the U.S. government has upheld a warrant for his arrest since then.

In recent years, the victim of the incident has spoken out on several occasions, asking for the extradition order to be invalidated.

In Poland, the case has inspired much attention. The director, who is of Jewish descent, spent his youth in Krakow, where he survived the Nazi occupation through being sheltered by Catholic families. He left Poland in 1963, following the success of his film Knife in the Water. Since 1979, he has lived in France, but he has continued to cooperate with American studios.

Photo: Roman Polanski with a Crystal Globe / Image provided by Film Servis Festival Karlovy Vary

Jabber 30th September 2009

The biggest fool in this whole saga is Minister Sikorski. Somebody please wake me up when any Cabinet Minister in any normal democracy comments on legal matters ex judice and doesn't make a complete tit of himself.

Jabber 30th September 2009

I don't get this. You complain about 'the way he got busted' - should celebs have a sort of 'VIP lounge' approach where they get arrested in a gentlemanly and discreet manner? Ridiculous. The guy jumped bail. An arrest warrant has been out for him for some time. Send him back for the US courts to finish off a case that he, unilaterally, cut short. Maybe his victim has forgiven him, and he'll be let off. Who knows? Let the court decide, not public opinion or the media.

Danimal5981 30th September 2009

I don't think people get the international stirr. This is not about him going to face justice; this is about the way he got busted and in that perspective it is Switzerland making a huge faux pas by doing the US a favor.

Second, the case has been sealed between the accused and the victim. Victim has openly stated that the matter has been settled financially and she has 'forgiven him'.

Although I do think he should face justice, I don't think this ought to be the way Polanski should be delivered into American hands. I agree fully on the hypocricy displayed by Polish government, although the focus of the government's protest was aimed at Switzerland's behaviour, not Polanski's wrong doing from back in '77.

coffic 29th September 2009

"unlawful sex dating"--is that what you call it? If a 40 year old man(?) plied your 13 year old daughter with champagne and drugs, would you call it "dating"? He is a perverted sexual predator. I know many warm, loving Polish people here in the U.S. who love and protect their children, and they are appalled. Granted, these people are not recent immigrants, but, I can't believe that their home country could produce these people, while defending this poor excuse for a man.

It is not surprising that his peers (perhaps they all participate in Polanski's disgusting behavior) in the film industry are defending him. Most in that industry tend to embrace immorality and illegality. However, for Sikorski to defend Polanski, to me, is indefensible. Maybe "Defence Secretary" in Poland is not the same as "Secretary of Defense" in the U.S., but I would hope that our Sec. of Defense would never get involved in a situation which does not involve him/her (yes, I know that Obama does it, but he shouldn't), and I hope that he/she would, personally, have the moral character to denounce such actions. The country of Poland should be ashamed of what he Sikorski said. Is Poland so devoid of honor that it would embrace a sick, twisted child abuser because he made a few films?

Jabber 29th September 2009

I agree. The man absconded from the US legal system, and should go sent to face the music. Who cares that he is a film director? Does that make him immune?

Krakow 28th September 2009

Didn't the Polish government just a few days ago pass legislation that would allow the justice system to castrate pedophiles? Now they want to make sure a pedophile who admitted to drugging and sexually assaulting a 13 year old to stay free. All this because he is a great director who is Polish?

This is not a charge, the man admitted and pleaded guilty to the crimes. He then fled to escape being put in jail. So I guess PO decides which pedophile is human and which is not now? Courts don't matter?

Poland is cementing their position as the laughing stock of the world. You cry about not being taken seriously. Well when you do things like this, it's hard to consider the Polish government sane and competent. Polish need to stop playing the victim and start electing reasonable politicians. Your past 3 governments have been complete disasters.

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