Mar 31, 2008 the sharply argued documentary roman polanski. Wanted and desired, a documentary by marina zenovich that is also a firstrate work of reportage, makes a forceful case that the whole truth of the matter was never heard in court. Excellent testimony of his lawyer who plainly told him that he could not expect a fair treatment from judge rittenband. Et i saw marina zenovichs documentary roman polanski. A few years later, polanskis legal troubles were the subject of a documentary, roman polanski. One of polanskis charming cronies appears at the end to explain the movies provocative title, wanted and desired. The events of 1977 and 1978 permanently marred director roman polanskis life. Wanted and desired is primarily concerned with the details of polanskis 1977 rape conviction and subsequent selfimposed exile from the u. Jul 23, 2008 that is what everybody remembers, and it is all here in marina zenovichs surprising documentary, roman polanski. This snippet of an interview with the filmmaker should give you a taste of what to expect from the film.
The box was coaxed out of hiding for our film roman polanski wanted and desired which examines polanski s decision to flee the united states after pleading. After being temporarily sprung on 2,500 dollars bail, polanski then fled the united. Wanted and desired at this years sundance, where it was such a hot ticket that i had to stand in line for about 90 minutes in order to be one of the last people admitted to the midnight public screening. Roman polanski s name, while illustrious, is clouded by both tragedy and scandal. The movie questions whether or not polanski received a. Examines the public scandal and private tragedy which led to legendary director roman polanski s sudden flight from the united states. Wanted and desired, directed by marina zenovich, tells the story of the scandal and tainted trial that would follow and would eventually force polanski into exile. Polanski faced multiple charges, ranging from possession and use of drugs, to sodomy, in that 1977 arrest, and roman polanski. I sat in the front row, watching the movie scrunched down so low in my seat that i was practically on. Wanted and desired is a movie documentary about movie maker roman polanski and his 1977 trial where he admitted to having unlawful sexual relations with a year old girl in california.
Mr polanski, 76, was detained in zurich on saturday as he travelled from france to collect a lifetime achievement award at the zurich film festival. Its up to you to decide if it is ever acceptable for a 43yearold man to have sex with a yearold girl, consensual or otherwise. This could result in a week without a single strong. Wanted and desired brings back the very good, the extremely bad and the horribly ugly life polanski, a guy so brilliant he won the best director oscar in 2003 for the.
Wanted and desired is a 2008 documentary film directed by marina zenovich. Accused of unlawful sexual assault on minor samantha geimer during his stay at actor jack nicholsons house in march of 1977, polanski wound up in the midst of controversial judicial proceedings that many read as supremely unfair. Wanted and desired explores the implausible events that took place between these dates, along with details, before and after, that forever altered the life and career of polanski, one of the worlds most acclaimed directors. It examines the events that led to polanski fleeing the united states after being embroiled in a controversial trial, and his unstable reunion with his adopted country.
Roman polanski pleaded guilty to engaging in unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor in 1977 and has been living in exile in france after not finishing. Wanted and desired script is here for all you fans of the documentary. Riveting, and explains how the original trial was botched by the judge, who was just worried about how he would appear in the media. Tragedy because his parents died in the holocaust and his wife sharon tate, when eight months pregnant, was horribly murdered in the manson family massacre, scandal because of a notorious case of sex with a minor that led to his flight from the united states, where he is still wanted. Wanted and desired directed by marina zenovich produced by jeffrey levyhinte, lila yacoub, marina zenovich executive producers steven soderbergh, randy wooten written by joe bini, p. In october 2017, polanski returned to poland to appear in a documentary about his childhood during the holocaust and after the war, with his longtime friend, the photographer ryszard. This puppy is a transcript that was painstakingly transcribed using the screenplay and or viewings of the movie to get the dialogue. I recently watched marina zenovichs documentary on polanski, wanted and desired, about the trial of polanski.
But the boxs contents witness statements and lurid court depositions from roman polanskis statutory rape case remain as sensitive now as when they were filed away in february 1978. Regardless of what you think you know about roman polanski or the 1977 sex scandal he became embroiled in, marina zenovichs roman polanski. Jan 30, 2018 in 2008, filmmaker marina zenovich caught the mood and pushed it further with her documentary, the queasily titled roman polanski. Only polanski and geimer will ever know the full truth. Through wanted and desired, which was released in 2008, director marina zenovich asks you to form your own opinion. Get 50% off hundreds of family movies when you preorder on fandangonow today.
It concerns film director roman polanski and his sexual abuse case. That is what everybody remembers, and it is all here in marina zenovichs surprising documentary, roman polanski. Morgan 2008 filmmaker marina zenovich examines the drugging and rape case involving director polanski. Roman polanskis name, while illustrious, is clouded by both tragedy and scandal. Regardless what kind of person roman polanski and other characters depicted in this film are, regardless how the justice system worked or, mostly, failed to work properly this documentary gives. Over footage of polanskis investiture into the academie francaise, crony explains that in france, polanski is desired, whereas in the usa hes still wanted as in a wanted poster at the post office.
Roman polanski simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Wanted and desired synopsis filmmaker marina zenovich examines the drugging and rape case involving director polanski. The film focuses on the judge in the case and the possible reasons why he changed his mind. Since 1978, polanski has been a fugitive from the u. Comprised of interviews with producers and friends andrew braunsberg, daniel melnick, mia farrow, and many. In addition to his film work, polanski directed and occasionally acted in theatrical productions. Wanted and desired, which follows the aftermath of roman polanskis surprise 2009 arrest at the zurich film festival, and his 10month imprisonment that followed. A few years later, polanski s legal troubles were the subject of a documentary, roman polanski. Regardless what kind of person roman polanski and other characters depicted in this film are, regardless how the justice system worked or, mostly, failed to work properly this documentary gives us a very objective description of this very complex event.
This is something roman polanskis lawyer, douglas dalton, says early in the documentary roman polanski. But the boxs contents witness statements and lurid court depositions from roman polanski s statutory rape case remain as sensitive now as when they were filed away in february 1978. Roman polanski fled to france in 1978 film director roman polanski has been taken into custody in switzerland and faces extradition to the us for having sex with a yearold girl in 1977. Excellent documentary, well researched, giving an unbiased and full account of the polanski case. Roman polanski raped a child finally arrested 32 years after. Reviewed in the united states on february 14, 2010. Wanted and desired brings together all of the key figures in the trial and polanskis life at the time to gives viewers all the pertinent information needed to make their own decisions about polanskis conduct and the validity of the trial. The documentary reopens the case to look at what actually went on in the courtroom, including the behindcloseddoors plotting of an opportunistic judge, whose. In 2008, a documentary film of the aftermath of the incident, roman polanski. A followup to the film, also directed by zenovich, titled roman. Wanted and desired, premiered at the sundance film festival. Director roman polanski, who was accused of having.
Wanted and desired full movie in hd visit examines the public scandal and private tragedy which. Quentin tarantino once said yearold raped by roman polanski wanted to have it. The movie questions whether or not polanski received a fair trial. Hbo was forced to change the ending of marina zenovichs acclaimed documentary roman polanski. With a subject like roman polanski, you dont really need to do much to capture audience interest. Over footage of polanskis investiture into the academie francaise, crony explains that in france, polanski is desired, whereas in the usa hes still. In 2008, filmmaker marina zenovich caught the mood and pushed it further with her documentary, the queasily titled roman polanski. The toxic influence of the media and the doubleedged allure of celebrity form the pervasive themes of roman polanski. Wanted and desired, which argued that polanski was the victim of. Wanted and desired 2008, explores allegations of misconduct by the presiding judge in the original case.
Wanted and desired, has already debuted on tv, which further complicates its box office chances. Wanted and desired 2008 starring roman polanski and samantha geimer on dvd and bluray. Wanted and desired isnt about the innocence or guilt of its title subject, who after pleading guilty in 1977 to having unlawful sexual. Jul 25, 2008 with a subject like roman polanski, you dont really need to do much to capture audience interest. What does hollywoods reverence for child rapist roman. Wanted and desired, marina zenovich s documentary about polanski s 1977 arrest for rape of a minor set facts straight about a case that was blown to ridiculous proportions by a sensationalistic press and a judge who was far from judicious. In 2008, the documentary film by marina zenovich, roman polanski.
Take a look at the first footage from this documentary, which will be available on itunes clickhere to preorder the documentary. This puppy is a transcript that was painstakingly transcribed using the screenplay andor viewings of the movie to get the dialogue. Advertisement but there is so much more, and the story she builds, brick by brick with eyewitness testimony, is about crimes against the justice system carried out by the judge of polanskis case, laurence j. Wanted and desired, a mesmerizing portrait of the director as acclaimed. Wanted and desired, rather than exploring in an ethically objective manner the notorious case of that famed filmmaker who fled the us in 1977 rather than face sentencing in the drugging, rape and sodomizing of a year old girl, functions as a mouthpiece to both defend and fawn over the paris based director. Hbo documentary films and thinkfilm present in association with graceful pictures and bbc an antidote films production a film by marina zenovich roman polanski.
Roman polanski survived the holocaust in poland, became an international sensation with his offbeat suspense films, and lost his pregnant wife in an attack by the manson family, but marina zenovichs documentary roman polanski. Wanted and desired, was released in europe and the united states where it won numerous awards. Jan 19, 2008 the toxic influence of the media and the doubleedged allure of celebrity form the pervasive themes of roman polanski. In this may 6, 2008 file photo, samantha geimer arrives at the premiere of the hbo documentary roman polanski.