Marina Zenovich’s new documentary, Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired, examines the life of a man who has seen significant ups and downs. Despite being one of the most acclaimed film directors in the world, Roman Polanski has been tarnished both by tragedy and utter disgrace. Nazis murdered his mother, followers of Charles Manson murdered his pregnant wife and in 1977 he had sex with a 13-year-old girl.
Using interviews, old photographs, archival footage and newspaper clippings, Zenovich has pieced together a biography of Polanski that focuses chiefly on the scandal surrounding his "unlawful sexual intercourse" with a minor.
Though Polanski was the one charged with the crime, this film puts Laurence J. Rittenband on trial, the opportunistic judge who presided over Polanski’s case.
The film explains how he abused his power and milked the case for all it was worth to please the media and make himself look good – objectives that were far more important to him than actual justice.
When it came time for sentencing, all precedents pointed to probation, but Rittenband wanted Polanski behind bars so he wouldn’t seem soft on celebrities. The judge became increasingly inept, fickle and untrustworthy; he told his country club cronies one thing and Polanski’s defense council the opposite. He dangled the prospect of a harsh sentence in front of Polanski and even prompted reporters to give him judicial advice. These circumstances ultimately led Polanski to flee the U.S. in February 1978, before the case could be resolved.
Wanted and Desired demonstrates the toll all of this took on Polanski, both emotionally and professionally, but empathy doesn’t come easy for this protagonist due to his shameful misdeed. Instead, the film’s virtue lies in social commentary. Zenovich points out flaws in America’s justice system, lambastes unethical courtroom activities and raises concerns about the media’s culpable role in celebrity cases.
Yet ironically, Zenovich is indebted to the very people she criticizes, because her film is in large part constructed with footage and photographs of Polanski that were taken by scandal-driven paparazzi. Nevertheless, the film’s strongest moments come in interviews that Zenovich conducted, particularly the interview with the victim, Samantha Giemer, who now feels no contempt for Polanski – she just wants the ordeal concluded.
Wanted and Desired would like to appear unbiased, but in the end Zenovich comes off as an apologist, shadowing Polanski’s repugnant crime by hammering home that he was mistreated by an unprincipled judge.
As Wanted and Desired wraps up, it recounts Polanksi’s rebuilt life in France, where many people overlook his transgressions and concentrate on his directorial abilities. This is where the film raises its sharpest question: is it possible to separate the artist from the art?
It’s a tricky question. No one should condone the horrible crime that Polanski committed, but no one should act like it affects his craft either. Polanski gave us great movies such as Knife in the Water, Chinatown and The Pianist – true masterpieces. And once Polanski’s films leave his hands, they no longer have to have anything to do with him. A moviegoer’s role is to analyze films, not their creators. This principle can be applied to other unlikable artists who have created beautiful things.
Whether Zenovich’s film is trying to make this point is hard to tell, but the fact it provokes such thoughts is impressive. Although it lacks an emotional core, Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired is an interesting and informative documentary, definitely worth viewing for people who have invested time in enjoying Polanski’s movies.
