Since he was arrested last Saturday in Switzerland while on his way to Zurich Film Festival, which is holding a tribute to him, the least we can say is that regarding the ‘Roman Polanski case’, public opinion is divided, even among the Sama Team. The legal fate of director Roman Polanski shows there are still major cultural differences between Europe and the U.S…

The facts are these (from CNN):

The director pleaded guilty in 1977 to a single count of having unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, acknowledging he had sex with a 13-year-old girl, but fled the U.S. before he could be sentenced […] Now married and known as Samantha Geimer, she filed court papers in January saying, “I am no longer a 13-year-old child. I have dealt with the difficulties of being a victim, have surmounted and surpassed them with one exception […] Geimer, now 45, and a mother of three, sued Polanski and received an undisclosed settlement. She long ago came forward and made her identity public — mainly, she said, because she was disturbed by how the criminal case had been handled

Some people (let’s say Government officials, movie industry personalities and small amount of French public opinion) have a clear opinion about Roman Polanski‘s situation, and some have even spoken publicly about it, like Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, Justice Minister Michèle Alliot-Marie and French Culture Minister Frédéric Mitterrand, quoting:

“To see him thrown to the lions and put in prison because of ancient history. And he was traveling to an event honoring him, it is absolutely horrifying […] There’s an America we love and an America that scares us, and it’s that latter America that has just shown us its face.”

In France, Roman Polanski is regarded as one of the finest directors of his generation, critically acclaimed for his films such as “Rosemary’s Baby“, “Tess” and “The Pianist“. He is married to French actress Emmanuelle Seigner and they have two children. Many people think it’s a thirty-years old case, and even say it’s ‘acharnement judiciaire’ (judicial harassment) since Polanski acknowledged he had sex with a 13-year-old girl, and since Geimer herself (the victim) wants to move on. Justice Minister Michèle Alliot-Marie is even wondering why the U.S. is still seeking his extradition…

But some others think Roman Polanski should be brought to justice since he fled the U.S. before he could be sentenced. Arguing all men, regardless of talent, are equal before the law and that he is finally getting what he deserves after running away and hiding for so many years.

No wonder why these two points of view regarding Roman Polanski’s situation are being the subject of controversy. We exposed the two sides, as it is also how we see the situation here at the Sama Team. One common question though: what will happen next?

Let us know what is your opinion on that.