I see here that Roman Polanski is petitioning for a return to the United States on the strength of supposedly new evidence of prosecutorial misconduct. He seeks dismissal of the charge that he had intercourse with a 13-year-old girl.
There is no doubt that what Polanski did was deeply creepy. From the Guardian's report:
The incident, which sparked a media storm, reportedly took place after Polanski booked 13-year-old Samantha Gailey as a model for a Vogue photo shoot. He is alleged to have given her champagne and Quaaludes (a sedative) before having sex with her at the Mulholland Drive home of his friend Jack Nicholson. Gailey publicly forgave the director in 1997.
But I say enough. If his victim forgave him 11 years ago, maybe it's time for society to do the same. Let's also take into account the fact that the most horrific thing in the world that could ever happen to a person happened to Polanski, which obviously can't excuse what he did to Gailey but surely is entitled to its space on the cosmic scales.
Maybe Bush could pardon him. After all, the Poles are about the last people on Earth who still like Dubya, so why shouldn't he throw them a little bone?
FOOTNOTE: If you've never seen Polanski's "Bitter Moon," go rent it. Amazing. It may be his best film, and yes, I say that with full knowledge that Rosemary's Baby is everything they say it is.
