all these heroes fall

[rm]

Roman Polanski raped a girl and pled guilty to it (and let me add to this: RAPE. It involved force and drugs _and_ the girl was 13, and I don't care what she or her life was like, she doesn't deserved to get raped -- no one does).

The fact of this rape has nothing to do with the fact that Polanski is also a significant artist.

Polanski did not commit rape because he is an artist. He did not commit art because he raped. That art and rape can be present in one person, should not, but does, surprise us.

Because the person he raped wants the matter to be dropped, I am torn on what I think should happen next. But that is the only reason.

There is, if you have not yet heard a petition going around that has been signed by luminaries of the film world protesting Polanski's arrest in this case, with some specificity being made about the arrest transpiring at a film festival.

The list of signatories is breaking my heart. It includes not just people whose work I admire, but people whose existence and/or work I feel has made my existence safer (yes, I'm looking at you, Tilda Swinton). Perhaps more distressingly, it includes people I have also worked with, not just in the sense of yes, we got a check from the same production company and might have exchanged a smile, but in the sense of people who have given me direction, touched me in the act of scene composition and deemed me worthy not just of praise, but of work; in celluloid they decreed my existence.

How dare you all!

A child got raped, and while there are reasons to perhaps discuss what should happen to Polanski next and why, Polanski isn't less of a rapist because he makes important films. And he's not less of an important filmmaker because he raped.

But that's not even what's important.

What's important is that a horrible crime is not less significant because a bunch of people sign a piece of paper because they're upset something ugly happened amongst all their pretty. That those people are the people who inadvertently, or in a few cases by looking into my eyes and telling me how to feel, taught me that pretty isn't all that counts, has me utterly shaking, mostly, but not entirely, with rage.

I am not articulate about this. This is not how I wanted to see all my heroes fall. And I'm just sitting here watching the list grow and praying, praying, praying that no more names with personal meaning to me show up on it.

But more than that, I pray that we somehow manage to do right both by our judicial system and the person who was raped.

Believe it or not, this has nothing to do with art, and I don't get why people can't see that.

Comments

[rm.livejournal.com]

Sam Mendes: it's not the biggest blow for me, but it's the most personally creepy.

[tsarina.livejournal.com]

God that sucks.

I'm old enough to know that I'll never agree with everyone, even people I admire. But I just can't understand how so many people can be so complacent about one of the most horrible crimes possible.

[idunn.livejournal.com]

Woody Allen's name showing up on the list didn't surprise me at all, unfortunately.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I was in Revolutionary Road so the Mendes thing is a bit awkward for me.

[frodo-esque.livejournal.com]

Oh no way, who did you play?

[rm.livejournal.com]

I was in the dance scene in Vito's road house (um, I've not actually seen it, so I can't be more specific). I was on set (and in a hotel with the crew) for several days, worked directly with Sam and the choreographers and almost got clocked in the face by the back of Kate Winslet's head. (It was like the Matrix, I only survived because the guy leading me and Leo are either total geniuses or very, very lucky). My first screen credit, and when I first decided to start acting Mendes was one of the three people I decided I would absolutely, positively work with. So, er, yeah.

[frodo-esque.livejournal.com]

I recently saw "Revolutionary Road" and would love to hear your insights on it since there is a strong, blatant feminist uncurrent to the entire story.

I know the dance sequence you speak of, it's at the very opening of the film.

It's really difficult when those we look up to disappoint us.

[stardragonca.livejournal.com]

When I saw that I just went "Oh, no, rm!"(I don't know who else is more important you on the list, and I certainly won't be asking.)
It's not heartbreaking for me, just disappointing and anger making. I'm a movie goer, not a maker.
There's something I need to say here, but I'm too confused to know what it is. No, not confused, upset.