Good movie, but best of all time? Hardly . . .

Don't Believe the Hype

Unshakable, witty and deeply felt, the film will be paying emotional dividends for a long, long time.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

Pedophilia! Shining legal star of our times! I think it is worse to be a pedophile in the anglo-saxon world then a murderer. Hack, murderers are wanted and desired to be sent to the wars in the Middle East these days, ah, well since they are the good guys, like an American Sniper, let us make pedophiles real monsters! Sufficient to say that those people receive harsh sentences and they are well mistreated in jails all over the world both by jailers and the inmates.Ms. Zenovich explores probably one of the most known cases in the world as far as pedophilia goes. Her documentary is a masterpiece, by all means, but as I understand it had Roman Polanski arrested in Switzerland, and even now if I understand he is under investigation in Poland as he is making his newest film. I am not sure did she intended for him to be hunted again? It is for her to answer.The whole case was ridiculous, by the twist of fate, if he stayed in the USA and got sentenced, he could of been sent to the same prison where murderers of his pregnant wife are serving their life sentences. I am glad that he escaped and I scream from the top of my lungs LEAVE HIM ALONE! Didn*t he suffer enough? He is a survivor of Auschwitz for Gods sake! All in all I recommend this film strongly since pedophilia is getting such attention these days, and documentary is very well done albeit I think it hurted Mr. Polanski.

It is interesting that this "documentary" was released as efforts were being made to extradite Polanski to the U.S. to stand trial for his alleged drugging and repeated anal raping of a minor. The film seeks to excuse his behavior based upon his horrific past including the loss of much of his family to the Nazis and to excuse his fleeing trial because of the judges alleged reneging on some deals he'd cut with Polanski regarding which crimes He'd would be charged with. The shameless way in which this film slants every detail to curry sympathy for this repeat pedophile strains credulity. It is unlikely his affliction can be traced to his parents demise and even if it did it would not excuse his crimes merely how they would be punished/treated. One of the films characters even accuses Polanski's detractors of playing the blame game while simultaneously blaming the victims parents for allowing her to be photographed, unchaperoned, by Polanski. Admittedly this was not a wise move , but who'd think that a high profile personality with such resources would stoop to such a heinous and ham-fisted act.The film did gather some fascinating information though, namely regarding the support Ploanski enjoys from a number of Film industry moguls. One is left to speculate on why this may be but in the end they are besmirching their own characters. Even the country of France, of which I am personally quite fond of for a number of reasons is left looking barbaric in their harboring of Polanski, though it should be pointed out that three quarters of it's people favor his extradition. It is one thing to dismiss sex with children under 16 years of age , it happens here certainly, but not with a forty-three year old. And to turn a blind eye to drugging and raping a 13 year old child is inexplicable.I have to give the film credit for weaving a story in a smooth and well produced fashion and for piecing together a substantial cast of participants who were involved with Polanski and his case at varying levels, but the degree of bias and the yawning lapses in logic and moral bearing are ultimately inexcusable. I would not be surprised to learn that Mr. Polanski funded the project himself.

It's the mark of a civilised society that, no matter how terrible the crime of which you are accused, you are entitled to a trial in accordance with due process; and although some perpetrators may sometimes escape the full consequence of their crimes by playing the system, that's better than mob rule, or a judiciary with arbitrary powers. In this sense, Roman Polanski was badly treated: convicted only of sexual intercourse with a minor, the outcome of due process was unacceptable to public opinion, so in sentencing, the judge ignored the law. Polanski fled the U.S and has never returned (although since this film was made, he has been arrested in Switzerland and faces extradition). On the other hand, while only convicted of a minor offence, this was due to a plea-bargain agreed by the state because of the reluctance of the alleged victim to testify; had Polanski been tried and convicted of all charges (including rape), he would have gone to prison for a long time whatever the judge. But that trial did not occur and the verdict it would have returned is thus unknown. The story may not be a happy one; but Polanski is as entitled to impartial justice as anyone, and did not get it.The backdrop to all this is a culture in 1970s California of young women making themselves available freely to rich and attractive men. The joke was that the prosecutor, a Mormon, was selected because he was the only lawyer in the office who hadn't committed the same offence himself. You may feel this is only natural, and that Polanski was just unlucky to be picked out for persecution for doing a very normal thing; or that the whole culture was rotten, and "why me?" is not an adequate defence. And remember that the original charge was of rape. The most disturbing thing I found in this entire film was a defence put together by some of Polanski's friends, who criticised the victim's mother: Polanski, they argued, was known to like sleeping with young women, so what was the mother doing in introducing her daughter? The assumption here, that Polanski was obviously have sex with a thirteen year old if given the chance, and that it was everybody else's responsibility to make sure this didn't happen, is enough in itself to make a little part of you wish Polanski was sent to gaol for life.Marina Zenovich's film tells Polanski's extraordinary life story (of which the trial is only one part), has interviews with all the right people, and is consistently revealing. Because the tale ends with judicial manipulation, it induces a kind of sympathy for Polanski he probably doesn't deserve. On one hand, he has had a tragic life. On the other, he does appear to be a man who believes his own talent and sexual magnetism give him carte blanche to do whatever he can get away with. One thing is clear: neither he nor his victim got justice.

so wait are you supporters for or against drugging and raping a 13 year old or not? Everyone on his side makes excuses but EVEN if it was consensual which it wasn't she was underage. I see people who support Polanski MAYBE making a argument if the girl was almost legal, wanted it and the guy excised bad judgment but c'Mon she was 13, drugged, said no and he fled the country. Even in Europe that's not even jail bait it's still pedophilia, it's not okay just because he's rich and people like his films.My take: It's not a witch hunt if you did it, admitted you did it and ran. Summation of the Documentary:I dunno anymore, Hollywood just continues to make less sense. I'm not a bible thumper or a letter of the law kind of guy but this is just bizarre. I liked Chinatown too but the man needs to serve for his crime. This Documentary was very skewed..... was produced well but I left feeling the film needed a rebuttal film. Too one sided for my personal taste on this subject with sprinkles of 'Americans Hate foreigners' and 'He had a tough life' to excuse the crime thrown in. But watch or not I don't feel most people will change their view one way or another.Pity his life BUT remember the little girl was the victim not Polanski he was a adult when he made his choices.As for the director himself his works speak for itself.