Three days ago, Harvey Weinstein, the disgraced producer, was found guilty of raping Jessica Mann and on a count of criminal sexual act against Mimi Haley. However, the court and the jury also ruled out two counts of predatory sexual assault and first-degree rape, saving him from two life sentences. While Weinstein now facing 25 years in prison, he has played the bad health card accounting his age and has avoided further court proceedings. He also faces similar charges in Los Angeles, for which he is yet to enter a plea.

But this is not about him. The allegations and his consequent conviction have indeed strengthened the #MeToo movement, allowing actresses, models, and women from a thousand of media management professions to speak up. The significant associations, the Academy, the prestigious Guilds, and Ollywood societies have come up in support of women of cinema. It’s a revolution that may bring change to the architecture of film production and offer women in film business a safer environment. However, it is not enough, and it never would be.

We are leaping back in time to evaluate how Hollywood has not only neglected sexual harassment but has refrained from condemning it publicly. Taking the Polanski case as an example, let’s break down how Hollywood is way far from repentance.

The Polanski Case

It was in 1977 that news of sexual abuse in Hollywood made headlines in mainstream media. Samantha Gailey (now Geimer), a 13-year old girl accused acclaimed director Roman Polanski (then widower of Sharon Tate) of raping her by use of drugs. On her statement, he was arrested in Los Angeles and was charged by a grand jury with five charges – rape by use of drugs; perversion; sodomy; lewd act upon a child under 14; and furnishing a controlled substance to a minor.

Polanski has taken Samantha to Jack Nicholson’s house, who wasn’t present there at the time for a private photo shoot. As per Samantha’s statement and testimony, Polanski served her champagne and gave her share of the Quaalude drug. Geimer testified that Polanski raped her, performed non-consensual sexual acts upon her. Her testimony included some shocking revelations where she claimed that she resisted and protested against Polanski, only to be overpowered by him.

Polanski was arrested on the charges mentioned above and pled not guilty. He claimed that intercourse was consensual. His lawyers agreed to sign a plea deal, where he’d agree to charges of unlawful sex with a minor, dismissing the other initial five charges. Polanski agreed for a 90-days psychiatric evaluation before sentencing. Believing he’ll be only given probation, he agreed. However, Polanski learned that he was to face prison and deportation, leading him to flee to London.

From London, he fled to Paris, France, his home country. Since Polanski is a French citizen, French authorities chose not to extradite him the US. Since then, Polanski has remained a fugitive in the United States. He has continued working from France and has never been prosecuted for the charges, for which he has pled guilty.

Aftermath of Polanski’s Flight

Polanski, in a 1979 interview, said, “If I had killed somebody, it wouldn’t have had so much appeal to the press, you see? But… f—ing, you see, and the young girls. Judges want to f— young girls. Juries want to f— young girls. Everyone wants to f— young girls!”.

A guilty child rapist, Polanski dared to utter these words in an interview. Roman Polanski was not charged falsely. He admitted that he had had intercourse with Geimer. His only defense was that it was all consensual. He fled the US and took shelter in his home country over a flawed extradition treaty allowing him to stay relaxed at home. At the same time, his victim went through years of trauma added with unwanted media attention and press intervention.

In 1984, in his autobiography, Polanski made a statement regarding the charges against him. He stated Geimer approved his actions; she didn’t respond in negative when he asked her if she was enjoying what he was doing to her. That was his response. He “asked” her. As if that was the right thing to do. To ask a child if she was enjoying being sexually assaulted by a man thrice her age. These words were a clear indication that Polanski was nowhere ridden with guilt but was somehow proudly moving on to a life of successful career in film-making.

Geimer at the time was 13, and one could hardly imagine what went through her mind. Yet Mr. Polanski kept on defending himself and kept on making boatloads of money and fame in his projects. Meanwhile, Geimer and her family suffered emotional distress. What followed was a tactical move of lawyer games by Polanski. In 1993, Polanski settled a case of sexual assault, seduction, and emotional distress filed by Geimer five years earlier in 1988. That was it for Polanski. He was directed to pay Geimer, and the lawsuit was settled. 

Despite knowing the fact that Polanski was guilty, he was never even asked a question about the incident. In fact, what Hollywood did was far worse than what he did by fleeing justice.

2003 Academy Awards Ceremony

In 2002, Roman Polanski released his passion project, The Pianist. A biopic of Polish pianist Wladyslaw Szpilman, The Pianist, was received with an overwhelming response. It was critically acclaimed and was placed in the likes of Schindler’s List (1993). This response led to seven Oscar nominations for the film, including one for Polanski in the Best Director category.

Oscars do not just acknowledge the remarkable talents of film-making. It recognizes the contribution of people from all sorts of media professions to the cinema. It is an applaud to those who have respected the artistic, cultural, and ethical values of film production and have proudly and honestly carried the heritage of global cinema on their shoulders. I don’t see how Roman Polanski, a fugitive, a guilty assaulter fit in that category.

Polanski won the Best Director Oscar that night. And that wasn’t the most distressing part. Since Polanski is a fugitive on the US soil, he was not present there to accept his award. He was given a standing ovation by the very actors who, in the past couple of years, have spoken against sexual abuse of actresses and have condemned actions of several notable accused celebrities. While the social media accounts of several of such actors are now loaded with “harsh realities of Hollywood” and “condolences and support for victims” clapped and applauded the creativity of Mr. Polanski.

The Pianist has since gone down one of the best war films in history. Polanski’s fame significantly rose after his Oscar win. Very little was known about him and his past at the time, and he was branded as one of the finest visionaries of cinematic artistry. A little ray of hope did rise in 2009, but only to go in vain.

Polanski’s Zurich Arrest

In 2009, Polanski was arrested in Zürich as he was wanted in the US. By the time, several attempts to dismiss the case against him were made. Unfortunately, Samantha Geimer had also publicly forgiven Polanski. She had also filed to dismiss the case citing emotional distress caused to her and her family due to regular media and legal emphasis on the unpleasant details of her encounter. US authorities tried to extradite him but failed, and Polanski was released in 2010. 

But where Hollywood should have stood for truth, it stood for injustice and their guilt colleague. Petitions for Polanski’s release were signed. Various prominent names came up in support of the petition including Woody Allen (accused of raping his own 7-year old adopted daughter), Martin Scorsese, Michael Mann, Guillermo Del Toro, Alejandro Iñárritu, Alfonso Cuaron, and Harvey Weinstein (accused of rape and sexual assault by 80+ women, found guilty of rape).

Sympathies towards Polanski were openly showed by Debra Winger, who was a judge at Zürich Film Festival that year. Among the other signees were Natalie Portman, who later pulled her support in the wake of the #MeToo movement in 2018, formally regretting her call. French ministers and other members of the French administration showed continued support to Polanski. After his release, he went back to France and continued with his work.

Polanski continues to work and make films. He is still a renowned celebrity and is widely famous in France. In fact, he is to compete in the Best Director category this year’s César Awards. He is still being honored while he continues to make a mockery of the United States justice system.

The Weinstein Effect: Polanski Is Not Innocent

After tens of women, including prominent actresses who worked with Harvey Weinstein, came forward to reveal his acts of sexual abuse against them, an effect dubbed by media as The Weinstein Effect was noticed throughout the global cinematic industries. Kevin Spacey’s acts of harassment were revealed, leading to an end to his career. More than a hundred and fifty prominent figures were named in different accusations. While many openly denied them, a lot of them never commented on the fact that they were labeled as harassers.

Among these names was one more name, and that name was Roman Polanski. French actress Valentine Monnier revealed an incident where Polanski had raped her back in 1975, two years before his arrest for raping Geimer. There are four more separate allegations against Polanski accusing him of rape and assault dating back to 1972. Was Polanski always a pedophile? Well, he obviously denies all the claims.

Nevertheless, this effect has fortunately led to a global outrage bringing out men and women who had to go through any such aggression at any time of their lives.

Has Hollywood Really Repented

The Weinstein arrests and conviction has brought out the hypocrisy of Hollywood and the members of that fraternity. People, who once clapped and stood for Polanski’s achievements ousted him in the light of extravagant media publicity. Many of them, including Oliver Stone, were themselves names in some similar accusations. It was highly disappointing the way celebrities once gathered in his support despite him quoting – “everyone wants to f*** young girls.”

 I don’t understand how a man who’s defending his actions was given such an honor that is bestowed upon legendary icons? How come a fraternity who today fights for equal pay, LGBTQ rights, and women empowerment let him have that place in the industry?

Polanski has turned 86. He will take his last breath in France. He will evade justice till the end. In light of recent events, he has been suspended by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. In 2018. Why even bother? Where was that similar respect for ethical and moral values when he was given an Oscar? But thanks to him, the audiences like myself knowns the harsh truth of the world’s biggest film industry and the people who work there.

Conclusion

While I researched this article, I came across various articles and news stories about Polanski’s case. Many of them have exact accounts of Geimer’s testimony against Polanski. She describes the pain she went through in detail, only to burst into tears. Though I can quote her, I choose not to. I believe that insults her courage to speak publicly about her abuse. But this doesn’t change the fact how Hollywood, the one which we so admire, has kept a dark side of its reality hidden.

From what I read in the excerpts of testimonies against Weinstein, I can’t seem to imagine how these sexual predators have thrived in the industry without feeling remorse. It’s impossible that no one knew about it before. It’s just that no one decided to act, but they chose to clap for these assaulters while they accepted prestigious honors and gained global acclaim for their work.

There is nothing that can change the past, but that doesn’t mean a fugitive, a felon is forgiven for such a heinous crime. Though Geimer has forgiven him so that she can move on in her life, the law has its own principles. And those principles must always see Polanski as a fugitive.

For now, we can just hope that the conviction of Harvey Weinstein will mark the beginning of an end to abuse and harassment not only in the industry but also in every professional space and personal household.