MovieChat Forums > Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired (2008) Discussion > Why do we make excuses?

Why do we make excuses?

posted 10 years ago by HarveyManfredSinJohn
7 replies | jump to latest

For paedophiles/rapists when they are artists/celebrities? In any other instance an attempt to excuse an adult's rape of a 13-year-old with reference to her lifestyle and sexual experience would be universally, and quote rightly, condemned. So why are 'if's and 'buts' offered for the rapist in this instance?

Non-consensual sex is a strict liability offence. You can't defend such an offence with reference to the victim's own behaviour. In the case of an adult a court may, in some instances, consider an alleged victim's sexual history relevant in determining whether the rape in question has been fabricated/the sex was in fact consensual, but since a 13-year-old can never give consent the child's history/own behaviour is entirely irrelevant here.

[–] wind_of_rage 9 years ago

Everything indicates that it wasnt as you call it "non-consentual".
Either way EVERYONE deserves a FAIR trial and Poanski did not get one.
Keep in mind that his confession was connected to the deal and the judge was going to keep the confession but throw out the deal to save his own prestige.
If I where Polanski I´d have run too.

[–] vnisanian2001 9 years ago

Larry Silver, the man who prosecuted Polanski, said the same thing.

He said that if he was Polanski, he, too, would have run.

[–] chungt2 9 years ago

Don't take that quote out of overall context of this case. Polanski admitted to raping a 13 year old girl. How does anyone make excuses on behalf of Polanski with that fact? It is absolutely mind boggling and disgusting. This was a rape case. Actions of the judge and the mother had nothing to do with Polanski raping a 13 year old girl. The actions of the judge made Polanski run away but the fact remains that he raped a 13 year old girl after getting her drunk. This garbage (the documentary, not Polanski), tries to get people to focus on anything but the rapist and tries to spread the blame elsewhere but the rapist himself.

[–] vnisanian2001 9 years ago

The documentary is one of the best ever made. And nowhere did it say that it excuses Polanski for what he had done. Did you even watch the film?

Even Sammy says that it was only rape because the media saw it that way.

[–] chungt2 9 years ago

Best ever made?? LOL. you are either horrible at sarcasm or just a plain idiot. This garbage was full of excuses on behalf of Polanski. The blame on the mother? The blame on the judge? This is all the while Polanki was willing to enter plea deal for raping a 13 year old girl. You must be one of those people that blame rape victims for wearing a short skirt. Best ever made....lol. I probably shouldn't laugh because you are likely just a dumb person and was being serious.

[–] vnisanian2001 9 years ago

Guess what?

NOBODY wanted Polanski to go to jail, nor did they blame him for running away. The only people who did was Larry Rittenband and David Wells.

Rittenband did a horrible job on the case. He called the probation report "whitewash", he used a harmless Oktoberfest photo as "evidence" that Polanski is a danger to society, and he listened to his stupid Hilcrest friends, who begged him to change his sentence.

And Wells had the audacity to call Polanski a pedophile rapist, despite the 28-page probation report clearly stating that he was not.

[–] shanayneigh 9 years ago

Everything indicates that it wasnt as you call it "non-consentual".

A minor can't consent to sex. Everyone understands this but pedophiles.

Working in the movie business since -92