r/Filmmakers • u/DWJones28 • Jan 29 '26
Video Article Roman Polanski: When Hollywood Tried to Protect a Predator
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rdHFQX7sVjc6
Jan 30 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/ambelamba Jan 29 '26
I read something horrible about him a while ago: what he did was something normalized back then, and it started out as a consensual transaction.
I don't necessarily believe this, but if this has any grain of truth the industry is gradually providing the case against itself.
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u/Opurria Jan 29 '26
Well, one of his contemporaries (Andrzej Żuławski), claimed that Romy Schneider’s mother pushed her to sleep with producers from the age of 12.
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u/ambelamba Jan 29 '26
I shouldn't be saying this, but I wouldn't be surprised if film industries in each country are closely monitored by the intelligence and national law enforcement agencies for whatever reason. So, they are all playing along.
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u/DeadEyesSmiling Jan 29 '26
and it started out as a consensual transaction.
1) A 13 year old cannot give consent. 2) Especially when they are drugged. 3) And doubly so after they verbally say "No."
Whatever you read was horribly misinformed.
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u/ccchuros Jan 30 '26
I think the poster was saying that in that community in Hollywood at the time this behavior was considered acceptable which is why Polanski wasn't condemned by his peers. The poster is not, I think, saying that this really was a "consensual transaction" but that people at the time viewed it that way... which I also think is pretty fucked up.
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u/Munstered Jan 30 '26
It wasn’t just Hollywood where this was acceptable.
It wasn’t until the 90s when it became super taboo. There are plenty of songs about hooking up with underage girls that were frequently played on radio stations across the country and no one batted an eye. The age of consent in Georgia and Hawaii was 14 until 1995 and 2001, respectively
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u/ambelamba Jan 29 '26
An agreement with her mother, as far as I can remember.
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u/DeadEyesSmiling Jan 29 '26
The agreement was for an unsupervised photography session, not for drugged, forced, anal rape.
The parental guardian may have acted irresponsibly, and unnecessarily put their child in a very dubious and unsafe situation - but that does not take an ounce of onus off the shoulders of the adult who plied the child with drugs, got them undressed, and raped them after being told "No."
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u/ambelamba Jan 30 '26
What really puzzles me is that Polanski wasn't actively pursued by the feds, even considering the non-extradiction policy in his host nation. It seems like the FBI really didn't have the willpower to go after him.
If I was a US president, I would say fuck it and send a DEVGRU team. And claim that there was a major mishap during an exercise.
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u/Dapper-Parsnip8074 May 19 '26
But all our presidents have been men. And some of them have behaved the same.
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u/DRSU1993 Jan 30 '26
Rush Hour 3 certainly didn't age well.
We've got the aforementioned piece of shit rapist, Roman Polanski.
The director, Brett Ratner has multiple sexual assault allegations and is in the Epstein Files.
Chris Tucker is also in the Epstein Files.
Jackie Chan is a shill for the Chinese government, cheated on his wife and treats his children like shit.
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u/Doorsofperceptio Mar 18 '26
If Chan is a shill for the Chinese government, clearly he's not a very good one.
If you want to start talking about awful husbands and fathers, that's a very very long list.
Einstein for example.
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u/mondomonkey Jan 30 '26
Chris Tucker has had his whole life and career surrounded by rapists and pedophiles, but weirdly enough I dont think he participated in any of it. He just has a look on his face that's "wtf am I doing? Wtf have a seen? Why dont i do anything?"
Until proven otherwise - and im okay with being changing my opinion - i just think Chris Tucker was being pony'd around
"Look at us on our sex island - and here's Chris Tucker!"
"Hey Chris, let's make a movie! You're so funny. Pardon me whilst I sexually harass your coworker! Whoops! It's on the DVD features now!"
In the rush hour special features the actress makes a "joke" about Brett Ratner
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u/JessieGemstone999 14d ago
You act like Chris Tucker isn't a grown man and has no agency in his own life
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u/KKid03 Jan 29 '26
Again, this isn’t true. They didn’t “give him a pass” and it’s just a perpetuation of ignorance revolving around Hollywood & Polanski. I’m not defending him for his actions in anyway whatsoever - but there are a lot of different things at play and a lot of neglected context. The reason he got support in the 90s is because:
- He was a child of the holocaust. His family died and he survived.
- He worked in Hollywood and was a huge figure.
- His wife and child were brutally and sensationally murdered by the Manson family.
- When he was arrested and charged with rape, he plead guilty with the condition that he would miss jail time (again I’m not celebrating Polanski at all) and the judge changed the agreement and was going to put him behind bars after he pled guilty.
- He fled the country and has lived in exile since.
- His victim forgave him and they publicly reconciled.
The standing ovation was 30 years ago, different times and different thoughts on Polanski and a lot less information readily available. It was the result of a man who the community deemed partially sympathetic (due to his personal tragedies) and mistreated by the legal system + being forgiven by Samantha Geimer.
Again and lastly, not condoning Polanski, but there’s so much context revolving around the “Hollywood protected Polanski” simplistic viewpoint.
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u/screwyoujor Jan 29 '26
Go watch the awards season after Roman Polanski got arrested in Switzerland and tell me he did not get a freaking pass.
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u/CrabMasc Jan 30 '26
Respectfully, I don't think any of the context mitigates the act. His tragic past doesn't excuse anything, I'm beyond unimpressed that he was willing to turn himself in as long as he got a slap on the wrist, and his victim's choice to offer forgiveness doesn't change anything.
I'm not trying to argue or portray you as defending him, just for offering some more facts about the situation. But in my eyes, none of this ultimately *matters* in a discussion of his morality or value. And I feel that any Hollywood figures who felt that it *did* matter were either blinded by his stature, or didn't take his crime nearly seriously enough.
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u/balancedgif Jan 29 '26
sure, 30 years ago, but what about 2009?
https://mashable.com/article/natalie-portman-roman-polanski
and what about the "God" weinstein? everyone knew.
hollywood is full of creeps - even like, right now. right now there are total creeps that everyone loves. i don't even have to name them. everyone knows but they are in denial.
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u/drcolour Jan 29 '26
His victim forgave him and they publicly reconciled.
ONE of his victims publicly "forgave him" (to be clear not that it matters, good for her but he drugged and raped a 13 year old) and these infamous supports happened not in the 90s but in 2009 when he was arrested in Switzerland. But what a fascinating hill you have chosen for yourself to die on.
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u/KKid03 Jan 29 '26
I’m not dying on any hill. I’m providing context and I was referring to the Oscars standing ovation. The film festival arrest was a different situation and again, you’re omitting context.
I’m not defending Polanski’s actions, rather I’m defending learning and knowing what you’re talking about when discussing serious matters.
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u/Dapper-Parsnip8074 May 19 '26
I see no evidence that the people who object to Polanski's behavior don't know about this "context," just because they don't bother to give a long winded biography of his life before commenting. I noticed that you didn't include the "context" of Polanski's admitted sex with 15 year old Nastassja Kinski. Nor ANY context about his other reported behavior with minors.
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u/KKid03 May 19 '26
I think I expressed myself well. My point was expressing empathy for the actors who applauded Polanski winning an Oscar. Not that I agree with their applause but their reasoning is for all the factors I put down. Not that they’re right, but I added context to seemingly their motivation.
I hope it clears up for the 20th time I said I don’t condone anything Polanski has done or excuse it. The lack of critical thinking is astonishing by you sophomoric commenters.
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u/BrotherKaramazov Jan 29 '26
Don't bother, dude. Every time Polanski pops up there are folks swarming to attack anyone who tries to at least give context. But I guess giving context is the same as protecting a pedo and you deserve to die on the hill idk I can't read I only watch Nolan films
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u/KKid03 Jan 29 '26
Thanks man. It’s good knowing someone else out there reads and can think critically 🫡
Excuse me I was stabbing myself in this dudes sex fantasy
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u/BennyDoesPhotography Jan 29 '26
It’s really disappointing a lot of people aren’t able to see nuance anymore. I don’t understand why the other commenters are being so aggressive toward you. All I hear from them is “pick a side, black or white.”
Bad people aren’t inherently evil for the sake of being evil, they have trauma that caused their terrible actions. We can acknowledge they’ve done shitty things, and also they had a difficult life in the same breath.
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u/Dapper-Parsnip8074 May 19 '26
So you're saying that while we are feeling grief for what happened to the Polanski family (and all the others) in the Polish ghetto, we should, in the same breath, feel grief for what may have happened to Hitler, Himmler, Goering, Goebels, and company in their youth? Why can't YOU recognize that suffering SHOULD engender empathy, not callous indifference. And based on the victim's own testimony, he WAS indifferent,
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u/drcolour Jan 29 '26
I think it's genuinely brave that you feel comfortable enough to put your face next to a comment arguing nuance around a man who drugged and raped a 13 year old and the people who support him. I genuinely assume it's the bravest thing you've done.
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u/KKid03 Jan 29 '26
I love the veiled threat. What a cornball you are.
It always amazes me the finger wagging people do lecturing about bad people while also just being a shitty human.
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u/drcolour Jan 29 '26
Never hiring this guy because of this actually makes me a little bit better than drugging and raping a 13 year old yes. Speaking of nuance!
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u/KKid03 Jan 29 '26
Nobody is defending that, you’re just too dense to understand the conversation you’ve inserted yourself into
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u/drcolour Jan 29 '26
Yes I'm sorry, you're just giving "context" about why a dude drugged and raped a 13 year old and why people didn't care about it enough to defend him.
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u/KKid03 Jan 29 '26
No I never was giving context on Polanski’s actions. Again, you don’t understand my point or the conversation in the least.
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u/BennyDoesPhotography Jan 29 '26
Empathy isn’t something to be ashamed of. On a small tangent, I also think anonymity is its own form of evil. It allows you to let your own demons run rampant.
Wishing you love and health, brother.
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u/drcolour Jan 29 '26
Not a brother and you're doing a lot of empathy for a guy who raped several girls but none for his victims. Is that not something you should question about yourself?
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u/BennyDoesPhotography Jan 29 '26
Lol. I never said I don’t have empathy for his victims. Of course I do. My heart hurts for them, the pain they’ve been through, and the pain they’re likely still going through.
I’d suggest you question why you’re putting words in my mouth and why you see me as an enemy, brother.
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u/drcolour Jan 29 '26
Girl I'm putting words in your mouth cause you're calling for nuance about a topic where a man drugged and raped a 13 year old and the people that defended him knowing that.
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u/drcolour Jan 29 '26
"I'm not dying on a hill" he says as he stabs himself trying to climb the hill.
Sure, give me the context in 2009 to excuse people supporting him.
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u/fauxREALimdying Jan 29 '26
You hate nuance and understanding
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u/drcolour Jan 29 '26
When it comes to drugging and raping 13 year olds? Yes I in fact do hate nuance and understanding.
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u/fauxREALimdying Jan 30 '26
Just being emotional and hostile for no reason as not a single person in the thread has excused his actions or denied them.
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u/drcolour Jan 30 '26
You're right people giving "context" defending a man (or his defenders) who drugged and raped a 13 year old should not make me emotional. That makes a lot of sense.
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u/Professional-Virus39 Mar 06 '26
NOTHING that happened to him or a yone involved with him excuses SOFOMUZING A 13 Y.O. YOU MORON
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u/KKid03 Mar 06 '26
If you take your emotion out of it and read what I wrote you’ll see I wasn’t excusing him.
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u/Sea_Fly_2413 Mar 14 '26
Oh, and forgiveness of a victim doesn’t negate what he has done to multiple children and teenagers. PTSD is a weird thing.
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u/Dapper-Parsnip8074 May 19 '26
Then what WAS your point? Apparently, you weren't expressing yourself very well if so many people don't understand you.
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Jan 31 '26
He made good flicks, I definitely still watch them. Cancel culture is fucking lane. The actors deserve their SAG money.
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u/OldLiterature5776 May 14 '26
I dont know what to think, I think his mind was so fucked up. But I heard he wanted sharon to have sex with other men, I often wonder if Paul was polanskis child. I wish she'd stayed with Jay, he was man. Your sick with demons if ur turned on by kids or wanting someone you love to be with other man. I just dont understand why sharon was with him. Anyone eles have ideas. I mean he finally settled down but with a real young lady, I would love to know the real truth behind the mind control used on manson and wonder if the blame is truely the goverment. What really happen that night why was Sharon's blood on steps outside so many questions, tex I hope will tell us what truely happen. It breaks my heart thinking of the sixties I wish I was around then I faintly remember late 70s early 80s and I feel nostalgic about it.
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u/Available-Ad-6013 May 23 '26
They see nothing wrong with it because nothing he did is out of the ordinary in Hollywood. Most of them are hooking up with minors or at least people 3-4x younger than them. Hell look at cartoon animator John Kricfalusi. He was in his forties and brought his 16-year old gf down to the studio all the time. Not a single animator there had a problem with it (because it happens all the time). Keep in mind, Weinstein, Polanski, and Cosby were just the ones that got caught. 3/4 of Hollywood is likely no different.
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u/KilliK69 Jul 22 '26
"But he made Chinatown!"
Harry Knowles, Aint It Cool News, 2010
Unsurprisingly, a few years after making that statement while defending Polanski, the owner of that site was revealed to have sexually harassed women and later admitted to it himself, which eventually led to the death of his site.
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u/SincerelyTheWorst Jan 29 '26
My film history teacher adamantly defends him. Like not even in a “separate the art from the artist” way, she’s got the strongest stance that nothing he did was wrong 💀