How about this for a movie pitch: A man facing an awful truth magically escapes it, and lives a long and productive life before realizing in his old age that he must return to confront fate.
In Hollywood, such a plot might sound formulaic and overdone. In real life, it's the Roman Polanski story.
The acclaimed international movie director, now 76, has been a fugitive since 1978, after pleading guilty to having sex with a 13-year-old girl he actually raped.
Her family sued him and won a financial settlement, and even she wouldn't mind seeing the matter dropped.
But the fact is, Polanksi never paid the price for a very serious crime: The girl testified Polanski sexually assaulted her against her will during a private photo shoot with him, during which he gave her champagne and drugs.
After fleeing to Europe, where his native country of France has protected him all these years, Polanski was arrested Saturday as he entered Switzerland -- for a lifetime achievement award.
Polanski has done much in the ensuing years to win the hearts of movie fans across the world, and is considered one of the best directors of our time; his compelling film The Pianist , which describes the World War II siege of Warsaw through the story of musician Wadysaw Szpilman, won him a best-director Oscar.
But his accomplishments do not excuse his actions or obligations. He cannot be allowed to be above the law; if he'd been a plumber, they wouldn't quash the warrant for all his great work with piping.
Certainly Polanski has been in a prison of his own forging all these years, fearful of extradition and unable to come to Hollywood even to accept his Oscar. And it's possible the case will go away when he comes back anyway; some believe the case was mishandled. And, of course, the victim is in his camp now.
But whatever his fate, like the character in The Pianist , Polanski must face the music.
The Augusta Chronicle ©2010 Morris Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
He was married to Sharon Tate when Charles Manson's followers murdered her and others. She was 9 months pregnant. Wouldn't it be something if he ends up in the same California prison with Manson?
Money talks. This "great and honorable" leftie is par for the course. He's been embarrassed in the press (not) and that's enough for him and his. After being returned to L.A. he'll be released and allowed to travel the world without any trepidation. He'll actually benefit from this farce.
Yup. I'm sure of it, now. I can smell a no-count, do-nothing, n'er -do-well through the screen!!! Get it, Maw!!!! Whar's my whup??? Another omnipotent bubba in our midst. Whatchoo gonna do when your lifeline goes bankrupt, Skeeter??? Yeeeeee - Hawwwwww!!!!
My goodness lobo are you on medication? Do you have recurrent nightmares? Did your mother not breastfeed? Perhaps a few years of intense therapy will help your grammer and this desire to make yourself look like a jack-a** .....hmmmm?
I would like to see this man punished to the full extent of the law. I don't care what films he has made or who is wife was or what the circumstances. However, isn't there a statue of limitation on rape? I am not sure if there is in California or not. If that is the case, this man will walk free and probably sue somebody for bringing him here to the states.
He was/is a pedophile...a talented pedophile, but a pedophile nonetheless.