Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired (2008)

Examines the public scandal and private tragedy which led to legendary filmmaker Roman Polanski's sudden flight from the United States.

Director:

Marina Zenovich

Writers:

Joe Bini, P.G. Morgan,

Stars:

Pedro Almodóvar, Istvan Bajzat, Steve Barshop

Won 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 2 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Credited 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

Storyline

In 1977, Roman Polanski was arrested in Los Angeles on charges he gave drugs and had sex with a 13-year-old girl he was photographing for Vogue. Eleven months later, having pled guilty to one count, he fled to Europe before sentencing. This film examines that year-long period, using archival footage of the media frenzy and of Polanski's life before the charges, clips from his films, and contemporary interviews with many of the principles - attorneys, the victim, and Polanski's friends and associates. Polanski remains enigmatic, but portraits emerge of the machinations of justice and of a judge more interested in his image than his word or the law.

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Plot Keywords:

media frenzy | sentencing | media | girl | attorney | 

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Taglines:

The truth couldn't fit in the headlines.

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Genres:

Documentary | Crime

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Official Sites:

Cinefilo (Spanish)

Country:

USA UK

Language:

English French German

Release Date:

11 December 2008 (Greece)

Also Known As:

Polanski. Scigany i pozadany

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$4,613 (USA) (11 July 2008)

Gross:

$59,192 (USA) (26 September 2008)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Antidote Films (I), British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Graceful Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Color:

Black and White Color

Did You Know?

Quotes

Andrew Braunsberg: And in France, he's desired, and in America, he's wanted.

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Connections

Features Chinatown (1974)

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Soundtracks

"Lullaby"
Written by Krzysztof Komeda (as Christopher Komeda)
Sung by Mia Farrow

User Reviews

A Startling Document

Roman Polanski's life reads like a work of fiction. Tolstoi, Nabokov, Pasternak even Stephen King and Jackie Collins. The fact that it's not fiction but fact makes it overwhelming. He came from a world in which evil had taken away his parents in which he found his mission without any of the things that, most of us, would take for granted. That in itself is kind of admirable almost miraculous. This remarkable documentary puts things in perspective and it achieves that without rhetoric. How easy for a world consumed by gossip an innuendo to transform the man into a monster. I felt for Polanski, I could actually put myself in his shoes and weep. There is an element of innocence in his behavior that it's impossible to ignore. Hopefully, this film, will help justice to be done, real justice and real justice involves forgiveness and compassion.