Roman Polanski’s Release

Posted by Jennine Lanouette on Tuesday, July 13th, 2010

These last two days, I have been watching the media clamor on Roman Polanski’s release with the same anguish I felt when I learned of his arrest last September. In fact, it was that event that prompted me to begin this blog as an awkward attempt at a heartfelt statement poured out of me. After posting that declaration, I still didn’t feel I had fully succeeded in unraveling all my complicated feelings. So I started working on a longer, more in-depth piece, mining further and further into my subconscious. It took me about a week of writing, to find the various sources of my distress, bring them to light and make the connections between them. You can find that piece here.

I ended that piece with this statement: “My fervent hope is that the powers that are now coming to bear on this matter can collectively arrive at a fair and just reparation that will calm down the media and allow this artist to travel freely again in the country where the victim has forgiven him and the devotees of his work await him.” Now, nine months later, that does not appear likely to happen. I am glad for Mr. Polanski that, with his release from house arrest, he has been given some relief. But, at the same time, I am sorry that neither he nor his admirers and colleagues who have found their way to a personal forgiveness of him will have the opportunity for the closure that a collective forgiveness would afford.