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Things I Learned Today:
Rape is okay so long as you are a rich and successful filmmaker.
At least according to the people signing this petition asking for the release of Roman Polanski.
Fucking hell.
The wording of the petition is as disgusting as the sentiment:
His arrest follows an American arrest warrant dating from 1978 against the filmmaker, in a case of morals.
"Case of morals" is the cool new term for rape, I take it. And it's the rape of a thirteen year old girl. So it's irrelevent whether she consented or not (she didn't).
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.
HOW DARE THOSE SNEAKY POLICE TURN UP TO ARREST HIM SOMEWHERE WHERE THEY KNEW HE'D BE? Next they'll be, like, investigating crimes and searching for evidence and stuff. WHERE WILL THIS MADNESS END?
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.
Which they can do, as far as I'm aware, it's just that, for some MAD REASON filmmakers are not always above the law. (I mean the history of this case is pretty oh-dear-god, but making out it is a GROSS INJUSTICE when someone is arrested for a crime they've been convicted of and not served the sentence, and then committed several more crimes to escape is A BIT MAD.)
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.
Yes, dammit! If you're on the run from the law and you can't be safe in Switzerland, where can you be safe?!
And I think we can guess the effects: if people, even filmmakers, commit a crime, they may actually be arrested, even by the Swiss. HORRORS.
This extradition, if it takes place, will be heavy in consequences and will take away his freedom.
And why will it take away his freedom? OH YEAH, CAUSE HE DONE A RAPE.
Filmmakers, actors, producers and technicians - everyone involved in international filmmaking - want him to know that he has their support and friendship.
I fucking well hope not, or I'll never be able to watch a movie again.
If only in the name of this friendship between our two countries, we demand the immediate release of Roman Polanski.
PS. What is this rule of law of which you speak?
(I'm aware of the victim's desire just to not want to deal with any of this any more, but the criminal law is there to serve justice, not the victim, and however much one sympathises with her, it's hardly in the interests of a just and safe society to turn a blind eye to rapists and bail-jumpers.)
At least according to the people signing this petition asking for the release of Roman Polanski.
Fucking hell.
The wording of the petition is as disgusting as the sentiment:
His arrest follows an American arrest warrant dating from 1978 against the filmmaker, in a case of morals.
"Case of morals" is the cool new term for rape, I take it. And it's the rape of a thirteen year old girl. So it's irrelevent whether she consented or not (she didn't).
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.
HOW DARE THOSE SNEAKY POLICE TURN UP TO ARREST HIM SOMEWHERE WHERE THEY KNEW HE'D BE? Next they'll be, like, investigating crimes and searching for evidence and stuff. WHERE WILL THIS MADNESS END?
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.
Which they can do, as far as I'm aware, it's just that, for some MAD REASON filmmakers are not always above the law. (I mean the history of this case is pretty oh-dear-god, but making out it is a GROSS INJUSTICE when someone is arrested for a crime they've been convicted of and not served the sentence, and then committed several more crimes to escape is A BIT MAD.)
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.
Yes, dammit! If you're on the run from the law and you can't be safe in Switzerland, where can you be safe?!
And I think we can guess the effects: if people, even filmmakers, commit a crime, they may actually be arrested, even by the Swiss. HORRORS.
This extradition, if it takes place, will be heavy in consequences and will take away his freedom.
And why will it take away his freedom? OH YEAH, CAUSE HE DONE A RAPE.
Filmmakers, actors, producers and technicians - everyone involved in international filmmaking - want him to know that he has their support and friendship.
I fucking well hope not, or I'll never be able to watch a movie again.
If only in the name of this friendship between our two countries, we demand the immediate release of Roman Polanski.
PS. What is this rule of law of which you speak?
(I'm aware of the victim's desire just to not want to deal with any of this any more, but the criminal law is there to serve justice, not the victim, and however much one sympathises with her, it's hardly in the interests of a just and safe society to turn a blind eye to rapists and bail-jumpers.)
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For some reason, it's even worse for me to see the names of quite a few actresses and female writers on that list. I know that rape apologists come in all guises and genders, but seeing Swinton and Huppert and Reza and Adjani on there fucking hurts.
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The only thing about this debacle that doesn't make me want to quit humanity is that I have a newfound love for Greg Grunberg.
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O RLY? YOU DON'T SAY SO. THOSE EV0L FEMINISTS WILL ASK PPL TO RECONSIDER THEIR RAPE CULTURE NEXT. /snerk
*hearts Greg Grunberg too*
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(I have to admit that bit galled me too. There are a whole lot of things wrong with my country, but child rape being a crime really isn't one of them. Now the fact that a child rapist can plead to unlawful sex with a minor and get 80 days in jail instead of rotting in prison for the rest of his scumbag life, on the other hand...)
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Good God, yes. Usually, I must admit, I am among the first sarcastic Old Europeans gleefully mocking "puritanism" across the pond, but there's a time and place for that. This? Is really, really, really not it.
There's being okay with, I dunno, nudists sunbathing in public parks and defending child rape. Subtle differences that seem to easily elude lots of people who should know better.
I also resent the implications that his extradition was somehow illegal, as if sinister CIA minions had kidnapped him at gunpoint. As far as I as a layperson see it, the US authorities didn't overstep their legal bounds here.
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Woody Allen, though, seems like an obvious punchline for a sick joke in that context.
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nooooooooooooooooooooooo! dammit.
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