Now that he's caught, looks like he's going to be brought back to the states to face sentencing.  He is a very gifted filmmaker and he has had a horrible life with his mother being killed in the holocaust and his pregnant wife being butchered by the Manson family.....but he did rape a 13 year old girl, and that, there is no excuse, there is never any reason to rape someone.  I know the the little girl he raped has now forgiven him, but should he still get a free ride?

No, he should definitely go to prison.

EDIT: Whether he should go to prison or not is of course up to the courts but he should definitely stand trail.

God damn right he should go to jail. A crime is a crime. Just because it's been so long doesn't change the fact that it's been done. And, don't forget why it's been so long. Fleeing the country to avoid going to jail is a big "uh-oh" moment.

Now, keep in mind that he fled the country in '78. Now, France and Poland want him released on bail. Lol. Anyone want to take a guess on what he's going to do if he does get bail?

It's just been a bizarre situation from the start. Polanski should not have fled, and he definitely should not have raped a 13 year-old girl. And he should have been fairly and justly prosecuted at the time.

But was he? Did he run b/c he was scared to go to prison? Did his ego prevent him from accepting his sentence like a man? Or did the judge really have some sort of vendetta against him for being a celebrity? I'm not really familiar with this case, so if anyone can clarify the details, please do.

What I do know is that it's ridiculous that a 76 year-old man was ambushed while being honored for his work. It's ridiculous that he couldn't accept his Best Director Oscar because the Feds were hunting him like a terrorist.

It's ridiculous because he foolishly thought he could run and hide forever.

Why didn't he just face the music at the time and gone on with the rest of his life?

Keep in mind that it was statuatory rape, and not rape.  His sentence would have been a very short time, compared to what it could be now.


Phil

Quoted from The boy who could fly his pregnant wife being butchered by the Manson family

On a related note, Susan Atkins died in prison last week.

Quoted from dogglebe Keep in mind that it was statuatory rape, and not rape.

Drugging a 13 year old to fill her with your baby gravy is not statutory, that's full blown rape.

Quoted from Wiki Polanski was initially charged with rape by use of drugs, perversion, sodomy, lewd and lascivious act upon a child under 14, and furnishing a controlled substance (methaqualone) to a minor. These charges were dismissed under the terms of his plea bargain, and he pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of engaging in unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor.

Europe's age of consent variances. Now, a number of countries define the age to be as low as 14, which makes his action borderline. Polanski could, arguably, be excused to a degree for this.

My personal opinion, the guy is a pervert. Plain and simple. Suggesting contributing factors led to Polanski at 44 electing to sleep with a girl of 13 is simply apologising for him 'cos he's "talented". He was sound enough in mind to actively avoid extradition, so if such disgusting thoughts entered his mind, he should have seen a shrink. Had he been an abused child, and perpetrated this vile act as a man before 20, maybe, just maybe the flimsy defence would stand up. No, he was a man of 44. He knew better, and shame on those who worked with and harboured a man actively avoiding his just punishment.

Apologist posturing for a man who took away a girl's innocence for nothing more than his own gratification goes way beyond tasteless, I think. This is not about being an intellectual, this is about considering the victim. Children are our future, and we have a duty to protect them, give them the best possible environment to grow up, and not create a world where perverts like Polanski roam free.

I hope he spends the rest of his days in jail.

Oh, and Woody Allen, another "film guru" is equally despicable - sure, it's a different thing, but any parent/step parent would be repulsed by the thought of sleeping with a child they raised. Being talented doesn't equate to you living by another set of rules, and too many overlook this.

Andrew

Yes, simple answer.

He committed a crime - and it should be noted has admitted his guilt. He then did a runner. If it had been Joe Bloggs from down the road, rather than an acclaimed film director, there would have been no sympathy or people popping up claiming he shouldn't be treated as he has been.

As they used to say - if you can't do the time, don't do the crime.

I agree. He's a rapist and a coward. And whatever sympathy he's received is simply a by-product of the absurdity of this case.

I don't feel bad for Polanski per se, but it is a shame that the man could be in prison for the rest of his life when the victim has moved on and forgiven him (so she says) and apparently so has the industry. The Feds, however, are elephants. As well they should be. This should have ceased being news a quarter century ago.

A brilliant filmaker but a stupid, stupid man.

But y'know... hindsight... whatever.

Quoted from Niles_Crane If it had been Joe Bloggs from down the road, rather than an acclaimed film director, there would have been no sympathy

Exactly. A crime is still a crime, regardless of who commits it. Or at least, it should be.

Unfortunately it doesn't always work like that. Think O.J. That cocksucker got away with double homicide.

But in this case, if he gets extradited to the US (and why shouldn't he), then it's game over on Roman.

While I think he should face the court and accept whatever punishment is coming to him I do think we are allowed to feel some measure of sympathy for him.

His crime was despicable and certainly should not go unpunished, although it could be argued that he has suffered far worse that someone spending 10 years in jail would have done. After all todays jails seem like nothing worse than holiday camps, Roman has spent the last 30 years unable to practice his immense talent to the fullest. something I am sure hurts him more that a jail stint would have.

There is no excuse for what he did and I don't want to appear to be offering one, but jesus if someone murdered my pregnant wife then I just don't know what would happen to my mind. He has not even been able to visit her grave all this time.

Taking all this into consideration I would not be unhappy for him to be found guilty but not sent to jail. I say he has paid enough dues in this life.

I wouldn't throw him in prison for the rape nowadays. The victim has said she doesn't want this all dragged up again and has forgiven him, that should be enough for us all. He made one mistake more than thirty years ago. Yes, it was a horrible mistake, but it was a mistake and, like Murphy said, one that he has paid for in other ways.

What he should really be arrested for is The Pianist.