DISGUSTING.

A petition demanding the release of Roman Polanski has been circulating, and included

are the signatures of a couple of A-List movie directors (Pedro Almodovar, Wes Anderson,

Martin Scorsese, Wong Kar Wai, David Lynch). Here it is, copied verbatim:

We have learned the astonishing news of Roman Polanski’s arrest by the Swiss police on

September 26th, upon arrival in Zurich (Switzerland) while on his way to a film festival

where he was due to receive an award for his career in filmmaking. His arrest follows an

American arrest warrant dating from 1978 against the filmmaker, in a case of morals.

Filmmakers in France, in Europe, in the United States and around the world are dismayed

by this decision. It seems inadmissible to them that an international cultural event,

paying homage to one of the greatest contemporary filmmakers, is used by the police to

apprehend him.

By their extraterritorial nature, film festivals the world over have always permitted

works to be shown and for filmmakers to present them freely and safely, even when

certain States opposed this. The arrest of Roman Polanski in a neutral country, where he

assumed he could travel without hindrance, undermines this tradition: it opens the way

for actions of which no one can know the effects.

Roman Polanski is a French citizen, a renown and international artist now facing

extradition. This extradition, if it takes place, will be heavy in consequences and will

take away his freedom. Filmmakers, actors, producers and technicians—everyone involved

in international filmmaking—want him to know that he has their support and friendship.

On September 16th, 2009, Mr. Charles Rivkin, the US Ambassador to France, received

French artists and intellectuals at the embassy. He presented to them the new Minister

Counselor for Public Affairs at the embassy, Ms Judith Baroody. In perfect French she

lauded the Franco-American friendship and recommended the development of cultural

relations between our two countries. If only in the name of this friendship between our

two countries, we demand the immediate release of Roman Polanski.

Dear intensely well-connected, filthy rich, upper-crusted A-list movie directors who are

remarkably, and rather stupidly, demanding “the immediate release of Roman Polanski”.

I have also recently learned of “the astonishing news of Roman Polanski’s arrest by the

Swiss police”, and had, in fact, jumped with glee after having read about it. You all do

still remember that he was charged with rape by use of drugs, perversion, sodomy, lewd

and lascivious act on a child under 14, and furnishing a controlled substance

(methaqualone) to a minor, right? I’m glad that this geriatric cinema icon will finally

get to face the music, and will, hopefully, get his just desserts.

“Filmmakers…. around the world are dismayed by this decision” eh? Well, by gosh, golly

gee, I’ll be darned! We can’t have that now, can we? Oh no, we really mustn’t piss off

our beloved filmmakers – no matter how abjectly contemptible their transgression may be

- lest we be chastised with more movies like ‘Ishtar’ and ‘Gigli’!

Now, call me a dunce, but it has never dawned on me that “film festivals the world over

have always permitted works to be shown and for filmmakers to present them freely and

safely”. In other words, no matter what the circumstances are, even child rapists should

be granted a seat and some peace of mind at the good ol’ screening room, right?

Yes.. I kinda understand that “This extradition, if it takes place, will be heavy in

consequences and will take away his freedom.” But, I assure you, he will still be

allowed to let his creative juices flow…inside jail. I’m sure a few inmates will take

heed and indulge him on his paraphiliac needs.

And finally, it’s a bit preposterous, don’t you think, to demand the freedom of a

pedophile “If only in the name of this friendship between our two countries” (France and

U.S)? And if we say no, do you reckon we should, once again, revert back to calling thin

strips of potato that have been deep-fried as ‘freedom-fries’ ?

A petition demanding the release of Roman Polanski has been circulating, and included are the signatures of a couple of A-List movie directors (Pedro Almodovar, Wes Anderson,  Martin Scorsese, Wong Kar Wai, David Lynch).

Here it is, copied verbatim:

We have learned the astonishing news of Roman Polanski’s arrest by the Swiss police on September 26th, upon arrival in Zurich (Switzerland) while on his way to a film festival where he was due to receive an award for his career in filmmaking. His arrest follows an American arrest warrant dating from 1978 against the filmmaker, in a case of morals.

Filmmakers in France, in Europe, in the United States and around the world are dismayed by this decision. It seems inadmissible to them that an international cultural event, paying homage to one of the greatest contemporary filmmakers, is used by the police to apprehend him.

By their extraterritorial nature, film festivals the world over have always permitted works to be shown and for filmmakers to present them freely and safely, even when certain States opposed this. The arrest of Roman Polanski in a neutral country, where he assumed he could travel without hindrance, undermines this tradition: it opens the way

for actions of which no one can know the effects.

Roman Polanski is a French citizen, a renown and international artist now facing extradition. This extradition, if it takes place, will be heavy in consequences and will take away his freedom. Filmmakers, actors, producers and technicians—everyone involved in international filmmaking—want him to know that he has their support and friendship. On September 16th, 2009, Mr. Charles Rivkin, the US Ambassador to France, received French artists and intellectuals at the embassy. He presented to them the new Minister Counselor for Public Affairs at the embassy, Ms Judith Baroody. In perfect French she lauded the Franco-American friendship and recommended the development of cultural relations between our two countries. If only in the name of this friendship between our two countries, we demand the immediate release of Roman Polanski.

I’m hoping to send them this letter of my own:

Dear, intensely well-connected, filthy rich, upper-crusted A-list movie directors who are remarkably, and rather stupidly, demanding “the immediate release of Roman Polanski”.

I’ve also recently learned of “the astonishing news of Roman Polanski’s arrest by the Swiss police”, and had, in fact, jumped with glee after having read about it. You all do still remember that he was charged with rape by use of drugs, perversion, sodomy, lewd and lascivious act on a child under 14, and furnishing a controlled substance (methaqualone) to a minor, right? I’m glad that this geriatric cinema icon will finally get to face the end credits, and will, hopefully, get his just desserts.

“Filmmakers…. around the world are dismayed by this decision” eh? Well, by gosh, golly gee, I’ll be darned! We can’t have that now, can we? Oh no, we really mustn’t piss off our beloved filmmakers — no matter how abjectly contemptible their transgression may be — lest we be chastised with more movies like ‘Ishtar’ and ‘Gigli’!

Now, call me a dunce, but it has never dawned on me that “film festivals the world over have always permitted works to be shown and for filmmakers to present them freely and safely”. In other words, no matter what the circumstances are, even child rapists should be granted a seat and some peace of mind at the good ol’, apparently neutral-grounded,  screening room, right?

Yes.. I kinda understand that “This extradition, if it takes place, will be heavy in consequences and will take away his freedom.” But, I assure you, he will still be allowed to let his creative juices flow…inside jail. I’m sure a few inmates, who have similar proclivities, will take heed and indulge him on his paraphilic needs.

And finally, it’s a bit preposterous, don’t you think, to demand the freedom of a pedophile “If only in the name of this friendship between our two countries” (France and U.S)? If we say no, do you reckon we should, once again, revert to referring to those delectable thin strips of potato that have been deep-fried as ‘freedom fries’ ? Because, that would be a drag!

Warm regards.