Entertainment | 06/05/2008 6:20 pm

'Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired' Sneak Preview (video)

What happens when one of the world’s most famous directors becomes trapped inside one of his own movies? Directed and produced by Marina Zenovich, “Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired” is a fascinating look at the public scandal and private tragedy that led to the legendary director’s sudden flight from the United States after his conviction for unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor in 1977. The documentary reopens the complex and still-controversial case 30 years later, challenging many of the myths that have built up around it, while exploring the circumstances that led up to his conviction, as well as the media circus that followed. The film also reveals — for the first time — some of the previously undisclosed and questionable behind-the-scenes legal maneuvering.

A 2008 Sundance Film Festival Award winner for Documentary Film Editing, “Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired” debuts Monday, June 9 (9:00-10:45 PM ET/PT), exclusively on HBO, kicking off the HBO Documentary Films summer series.

“Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired” is an HBO Documentary Films and TH!NKFilm presentation; directed by Marina Zenovich; produced by Jeffrey Levy-Hinte, Lila Yacoub and Marina Zenovich; executive producers, Steven Soderbergh and Randy Wooten; written by Joe Bini, P.G. Morgan and Marina Zenovich; director of photography, Tanja Koop; edited by Joe Bini; music composed and arranged by Mark Degli Antoni. For HBO: supervising producer, Nancy Abraham; executive producer, Sheila Nevins.

Clip no. 1 shows press articles and talks about the European press’s and American press’s differing views of Roman Polanski.

Clip no. 2 shows Polanski exiting the court with officers helping to block him from the frenzied media.

Clip no. 3 shows Polanski addressing reporters outside the court room.

Clip no. 4 shows Doug Dalton addressing the press after Polanski doesn’t show up in court.

Click here to read Thirteen Questions for Marina Zenovich, Writer and Director of "Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired."

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38 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

This looks fascinating. I was a fan of Mr. Polanski’s work and of course, as were all of us, caught up in the murder of his wife, Sharon Tate. Over the years, I had hoped someone would get to the heart of the matter; dispel myths and shed light on his decisions. In our society, it is illegal to have sex with a minor and he fled prosecution. I have wondered if the action altered the path of his career in a way that he regrets or if he ever really cared about a career in America. Roman Polanski has been an enigmatic figure and I wish I got HBO!

By M L Staats on 06/05/2008 12:37 am

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You probably will be able to get it through NetFlix.

By phyllis Doyle Pepe on 06/05/2008 12:11 pm

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Roman Polanski is a genius when it comes to making films. Unfortunately for him you can not un-ring a bell. The sad truth is that he duped a little girl’s mother into a false sense of security, got the girl alone, dosed her with champagne and qualuudes and raped her. The girl said that she repeatedly told him “No”. He was something like 44 she was 13. He plead guilty but bolted from the United States before sentencing. Nothing in Polanski’s history, diminutive stature or brilliant career can wash away this filthy crime.

By E . on 06/05/2008 12:45 am

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Is it known whether or not at any point he expressed insight into his harmful actions and crime and did he ever express remorse for it while on trial?

By T S on 06/05/2008 7:58 am

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Before I read anything on Roman Polanski and this new film. I had two questions. 1) How old was the girl? 17? … no, she was 13. 2) Did he participate in the making of this film? ” …. one of the world’s most famous directors becomes trapped inside …. ” trapped inside of what? … trapped inside himself by the ugly truth of a crime? Maybe I should focus on how well the film is made … off to the reviews on the film.

By Liza D 08 .... beta on 06/05/2008 12:47 am

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Is this type of behavior acceptable to the rest of the world. A minor is raped—and we should think this guy was used as a scapegoat and forced to flee the country? Genius—great reviews—so what! There are many creative people who would never do such a thing. Yet we should judge him to a different standard?

By Brooklyn Gal on 06/05/2008 1:10 am

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This just tells us that even brilliant and talented people make mistakes. They also can be too cowardice to take the punishment. Do the crime, do the time! Just like the rest of us.

By beverly linens on 06/05/2008 1:55 am

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“mistake”??? Is that the new code word for rape when it’s done by someone well-known and respected in his field?

By Brooklyn Gal on 06/05/2008 11:30 am

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Shelia, Congratulations on producing such a fascinating sounding piece. I somehow missed ever paying attention to Roman Polanski’s trial. He is a genius filmaker, that’s for sure. I’ll look forward to watching and finding out what’s really going on. Thanks for the heads-up.

By To the beach ~~~ on 06/05/2008 4:09 am

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I also don’t get HBO - don’t see the point - so I won’t be able to see this. But I don’t feel what’s befallen Roman Polanski as “personal tragedy”. Losing his wife in such a violent manner? Yes - that was personal tragedy. Seducing a child? Nope - that was his stupidity and arrogance.

By Lorraine Bates on 06/05/2008 7:40 am

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I saw the docu - it is a must, and very even-handed. Most of the audience members I talked to after agreed - no matter how we admire him for his work, feel terrible for his benighted childhood and then the Manson massacre, he is still a sex abuser, and unapologetic. Warren Beatty and Jack Nicholson, two of his cohorts in priapism, are probably guilty of the same, but Roman got caught. Different karma, I guess.

By Tinka Parker on 06/05/2008 8:27 am

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Tinka - I’ll be watching on Sunday. For the record my review of R. Polanski in my response above should not be viewed as an indictment of the documentary. I haven’t seen it and, incidentally, the film was directed by a woman. It is interesting to note that R. Polanski’s victim, who settled a civil case against Polanski for an undisclosed amount of money, thinks that he should not have gotten any more jail time than the 42 days that he served prior to sentencing. “I don’t think he needs to be locked up forever and no one has ever come out ever besides me and accused him of anything.” She feels that the rape “paled in comparison” to the media frenzy surrounding her during the arrest and trial. So there you have it, if the victim can be coerced to feel guilty and more sympathy for her attacker than she does for herself shouldn’t we all be manipulated to feel the same and just let the poor dope off the hook? How disgusting.

By E . on 06/05/2008 9:43 am

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In todays world Polanski would be called a child molester. Despite what ever talent he might have for movies, that does not excuse his behavior. He fled the country to avoid paying for his crime.. I just can’t muster up a lot of sympathy for this man.

By G T on 06/05/2008 12:06 pm

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It’s like all them Catholic priests who jest kept doin it and doin it and golly, gee, what the heck has happened to them all? Course they didn’t make purty pitchures like this Polanski guy. Sometimes I think life mighty strange when grown men resort to doin rotten things to little kids and some get away with it and others get written about like they was famous or somethin. People ask me why there is so much evil. I never ask.

By phyllis Doyle Pepe on 06/05/2008 12:29 pm

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I actually have mixed feelings about Roman Polanski. But I reserve judgment based on the fact that I wasn’t in the room. What he did was certainly against the law unless of course he was a “claimed husband” of a newly menstruating 13 year old behind the safety of an FLDS compound wall. All in all, and he suffered the rest of his life because of the murder of his own wife and child. A horrifying legacy follows him all his days. We still need to have compassion for his errors and losses. And champion his creative successes and his ability to soldier on in the face of monumental tragedy. Bitter sweet reality.

By Amelie Poulain on 06/05/2008 12:58 pm