OP-ED: Polanski is indefensible. And the top 10 directors who didn't sign his petition

by Francisco Lo

Roman Polanski is one of the most acclaimed directors of his generation. Chinatown, Repulsion and Rosemary’s Baby are among the few great films he made. But Roman Polanski was also a fugitive child rapist for the last thirty some years until his arrest in Zurich last week. There is no question that he deserves to be extradited, but over a hundred famous filmmakers, actors and writers have signed a petition demanding his release. As a film critic and a children’s advocate, I am infuriated by the ignorance and arrogance these “celebrities” have displayed. Do they need to re-read the harrowing account of the rape from the grand jury testimony? Have their enormous egos allowed them to think that artistic geniuses should have a free pass to do as they wish and film festivals are holy grounds where no law should apply?

If Polanski has such an unfair trial thirty years ago, maybe it’s time for him to get a fair one this time around. Running away for thirty years does not absolve anyone of his crime. I am in no way denying Polanski’s artistic contribution, but he has committed a terrible crime for which he has avoided a sentence (so far). Polanski might very well be a nice and friendly person (and many perpetrators are). He is possibly a great husband and father, too. But he had raped a child and there is no one can excuse him from facing responsibility in court. Not Martin Scorsese. Not Wong Kar Wai. Not David Lynch.

It is very heartbreaking to see so many of my favorite filmmakers on this list of shame. I can understand why Woody Allen would sign it (kudos to his shameless courage), but I thought Pedro Almodovar, the Dardenne brothers and Costa Gavras are socially conscious artists. For whatever reason you signed the petition, be ashamed of yourself. I am not encouraging anyone to boycott these filmmakers’ works because I have the capability to understand that artistic merit and moral failings do not necessarily overlap (unlike the petition signees). But in no particular order, here is my list of top ten living filmmakers who did not sign the Free Poon-lanski Petition (but I have no idea where they stand on this issue):

1. Agnes Varda
The only female among the legendary group of French New Wave filmmakers, Agnes Varda has always been an innovator in the field. CLEO FROM 5 TO 7 is a masterpiece that challenges the concept of real-time cinema. LE BONHEUR is a feminist look at marriage. Varda is also a renown documentarian and she looks back at her life in the new film THE BEACHES OF AGNES.

2. Jean-Luc Godard
Another French titan that needs no introduction. The 78-year-old director is still an active filmmaker. Known for his leftist politics but occasional patriarchal portrayal on gender issues, I'm surprised he hasn't signed the petition with his peers. Regardless, VIVRE SA VIE (Her Life To Live) is a great movie about the life of a prostitute.

3. Hayao Miyazaki
The master who elevates the art form of animation to legitimate cinema, Miyazaki's movies have often feature strong and well-written female characters loved by adults and children around the globe. It is safe to say he has never made a bad movie in his career, KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE and SPIRITED AWAY are among his bests. His new film is PONYO

4. Guy Maddin
Some call him the "Canadian David Lynch", but Guy Maddin's style is one of his kind. Inspired by silent cinema, his films are lo-fi visual spectacles with the freakiest narrative you would see. See it youself in BRAND UPON MY BRAIN! and MY WINNIPEG.

5. Jim Jarmusch
One of the trailblazers of the American independent cinema, Jarmusch's tales of offbeat characters shines in his beautifully shot features. DOWN BY LAW, STRANGER THAN PARADISE and DEAD MEN are some of the best black and white films made in the last twenty-five years.

6. Chantal Akerman
With one foot in experimental cinema and the other in the mainstream, Akerman has always been one of the most challenging filmmakers around. It is hard to imagine anyone else could make a film like JEANNE DIELMAN.

7. Ramin Bahrani
The most promising American director of this generation, Bahrani is still quite under the radar (and Hollywood probably doesn't bother to pass the petition to him). Remember his name and watch his films. CHOP SHOP. GOODBYE SOLO. MAN PUSH CART.

8. Joel and Ethan Coen
The biggest names that have not signed the petition (yet?). Their new film A SERIOUS MAN is coming out this month.

9. Jia Zhangke
He is the best director from China right now and he will continue to be one of the world's best in the next decade (and hopefully longer). 24 CITY is in theaters now. But look for his patiently-paced and gorgeously framed motion picture in STILL LIFE.

10. Lars Von Trier
He once called Roman Polanski a midget because the jury headed by the little man only gave Von Trier a third-place prize at Cannes in 1991. As one of the founders of Dogma 95 movement, Von Trier is the evil genius of cinema. BREAKING THE WAVES, DOGMA, DANCER IN THE DARK are brutal and shocking, but also his most accessible films. His new film, THE ANTICHRIST, is coming. Beware.


(This list is just a small sample. I am also surprised that Harvey Weinstein, the biggest Polanski supporter, has not made his employee Quentin Tarantino sign yet.)