Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired (2008)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Marina Zenovich

Writers:

Joe Bini (writer)
P.G. Morgan (writer)

Release Date:

11 December 2008 (Greece)

Genre:

Documentary

Tagline:

The truth couldn't fit in the headlines.

Plot:

Marina Zenovich's new documentary examines the public scandal and private tragedy which led to legendary director Roman Polanski's sudden flight from the United States.

Plot Keywords:

Judge | Justice | Attorney | Girl | Media Frenzy

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Pedro Almodóvar	...	Himself (archive footage)
Istvan Bajzat	...	Himself
Steve Barshop	...	Himself
Marilyn Beck	...	Herself
Madeline Bessmer	...	Herself
Pierre-André Boutang	...	Himself
Andrew Braunsberg	...	Himself
Richard Brenneman	...	Himself
Nicolas Cage	...	Himself (archive footage)
Michael Caine	...	Himself (archive footage)
John Cassavetes	...	Guy Woodhouse (archive footage)
Dick Cavett	...	Himself (archive footage)
Furnell Chatman	...	Himself (archive footage)
Joan Collins	...	Herself (archive footage)
Michael M. Crain	...	Himself
Stephen Daldry	...	Himself (archive footage)
Douglas Dalton	...	Himself (also archive footage)
Catherine Deneuve	...	Herself / Carole Ledoux (archive footage)
Faye Dunaway	...	(archive footage)
Mia Farrow	...	Herself (also archive footage)
Harrison Ford	...	Himself (archive footage)
Samantha Geimer	...	Herself
Jim Grodin	...	Himself
Robin Groth	...	Himself (archive footage)
Roger Gunson	...	Himself
Gene Gutowski	...	Himself
Russell Harty	...	Himself (archive footage)
Hugh M. Hefner	...	Himself (archive footage)
Mick Jagger	...	Himself (archive footage)
Clive James	...	Himself
Ken Jones	...	Himself (archive footage)
Hawk Koch	...	Himself
Hanna Landy	...	Herself
Dr. Ronald Markman	...	Himself
Rob Marshall	...	Himself (archive footage)
Daniel Melnick	...	Himself
Hans Mollinger	...	Himself
Jack Nicholson	...	Himself / Jack Gittes (archive footage)
Barbara Parkins	...	Herself (archive footage)
Roman Polanski	...	Himself (archive footage)
Claus Preute	...	Himself
Elliot Rittenband	...	Himself - Nephew
Laurence J. Rittenband	...	Himself (archive footage)
Marlene Roden	...	Herself
Marv Ryver	...	Himself (archive footage)
Jay Sebring	...	Himself (archive footage)
Emmanuelle Seigner	...	Herself
Lorenzo Semple Jr.	...	Himself
Fred Sidewater	...	Himself
Lawrence M. Silver	...	Himself (as Lawrence Silver)
Terence Stamp	...	Himself (archive footage)
Meryl Streep	...	Herself (archive footage)
Anthea Sylbert	...	Herself
Debra Tate	...	Herself
Sharon Tate	...	Herself / Sarah Shagal (archive footage)
Stephen S. Trott	...	Himself (archive footage)
Diane Tschekaloff	...	Herself
Philip Vannatter	...	Himself
Mike Wallace	...	Himself (archive footage)
Leonor Watling	...	Herself (archive footage)
David Wells	...	Himself

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English | French | German

Color:

Color | Black and White

Certification:

USA:Unrated | Greece:K-13 | Singapore:NC-16

Company:

Antidote Films (I)

Movie Connections:

Features Clive James Meets Roman Polanski (1984) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Lullaby

Brilliant, if not, human portrait of Polanski

This made for HBO documentary is about the sex scandal between filmmaker Roman Polanski (ROSEMARY'S BABY, CHINATOWN) and a 13 year old girl whom he was photographing. It happened in 1977, when he supposedly drugged and raped this girl during the photo shoot. He was never really convicted and fled the country to Paris and hasn't returned since.

It features interviews with Polanski's friends, confidants, lawyers, and even the alleged victim herself, now in her 40s. This was a well-made document that does shed new light on this case, which never has been resolved as of now.

One thing that is interesting about this program is that there are breaks inside the story about the case that talk about Polanski's past. In particular, losing his parents in the Holocaust and especially the murder of his wife Sharon Tate at the hands of Charles Manson's family. Some of the interviewees even think that if the latter incident hadn't happened, then all this spiel about the rape case would never be. It kinda makes you sympathetic towards Polanski.

Overall, this is an interesting thing to see if you are a big fan of Polanski. Well done, excellent interviewees, and even clips of his movies.