Brilliant and touching

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

In 1977, Roman Polanski was arrested after having sex with and providing drugs to a 13 year old Samantha Geimer in Los Angeles. She had gone with her mother to do a photo shoot with the famed director for a magazine. The mother leaves Samantha alone with Polanski and they have sex. The lawyers come to a plea without jail time. Judge Rittenband using questionable methods orders a 90 days psychiatric evaluation in prison. After serving 42 days, he is released. With favorable reports, he expected probation but the judge is under pressure to impose a heavier sentence. In 1978, he left for Europe and has not yet returned to America.The overriding question for me is, "Did he have sex with a 13 year old girl?". At the end of the day, he did the crime and he spent 42 days in protected custody. It's not the biggest injustice ever. In fact, I don't see it as that harsh. The most revealing element is the incompetent judge. He is worst than judge Ito but I doubt he's the worst. The movie dives into Polanski's troubled life but it doesn't have him explaining himself. He is an enigma in this movie.

Pedophilia! Shining legal star of our times! I think it is worse to be a pedophile in the anglo-saxon world then a murderer. Hack, murderers are wanted and desired to be sent to the wars in the Middle East these days, ah, well since they are the good guys, like an American Sniper, let us make pedophiles real monsters! Sufficient to say that those people receive harsh sentences and they are well mistreated in jails all over the world both by jailers and the inmates.Ms. Zenovich explores probably one of the most known cases in the world as far as pedophilia goes. Her documentary is a masterpiece, by all means, but as I understand it had Roman Polanski arrested in Switzerland, and even now if I understand he is under investigation in Poland as he is making his newest film. I am not sure did she intended for him to be hunted again? It is for her to answer.The whole case was ridiculous, by the twist of fate, if he stayed in the USA and got sentenced, he could of been sent to the same prison where murderers of his pregnant wife are serving their life sentences. I am glad that he escaped and I scream from the top of my lungs LEAVE HIM ALONE! Didn*t he suffer enough? He is a survivor of Auschwitz for Gods sake! All in all I recommend this film strongly since pedophilia is getting such attention these days, and documentary is very well done albeit I think it hurted Mr. Polanski.

I give this film 3/10 just because I think the film is very well done... but as a documentary the film lacks impartiality.It is impossible not to feel some sort sympathy for a man like Polanski, who has such a tragic past and even so he has been able to succeed in a world in which succeeding is not easy at all. But for most people I know, including myself, this sympathy is brutally shaken when one knows about the horrible crime which he committed.I know that no one is an angel and we all have done some wrong things, but after reading the little girl's testimony (which is available in internet) it is really shocking to hear that such fascinating person as Polanski could have done something so vile, so disgusting and so perverse.This film shows Polanski's side which we all like, but it fails to show his darker side. It chooses parts of the facts, and it ignores others which are also important. The films shows Polanski as a victim of a corrupted judicial system, but it fails to show the corrupted side of Polanski.It is true; he may be remarkable man in many aspects, he is doubtlessly a great film director, and probably he has many other good qualities. But is that enough to put him above the laws, specially above such laws which protect the most fragile in our society? If Polanski was not famous and rich, if he was just a "simple mortal" just like most of us, then he would have probably stayed in jail for many, many years. But he is rich and famous, and then he can hire flashy lawyers, and he can make deals and buy justice. But the truth is that he sexually abused of girl who was just too young, and there is a higher justice which does not accept "plea bargains". I think Mr. Polanski, if he has not paid his debt already, he will not be able to escape the consequences of his crime.I think this film does well showing the corruption in the legal system, and also showing the sympathetic side of Mr. Polanski. But I also think this film attempts to hide the fact that he has done something terrible, something so destructive and repugnant: he raped a 13 year old girl. If I was the father of that little girl, I would find it very difficult in my heart to forgive him.

Roman Polanski was not exactly your prototype Good Polish Roman, but nevertheless he was and continues to be a brainy methodical film director who has lived quite an elevator life. Those highs and lows are chronicled in the indie documentary "Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired". The main lowdown on Polanski, unfortunately for him, is on his well-publicized case of having sexual relations with a 13-year-old female minor in the late 70's that consequently brought major problemas to the Roman congregation! His Chuckie "Child's Play" brought no chuckles to many. Before there was an "R. Kelly" there was a "R. Polanski"! OK, enough! Polanski was charged with counts of providing drugs to a minor, sexual relations with an underage person, and of rape. Through plea deal bargaining, Polanski ended up pleading guilty to one count of having sex with a minor. Romanito pulled a page from "The Fugitive" screenplay and fled the U.S. to Paris before his sentencing. Why not Rome, Roman? The escapist trap to Paris which Polanski pulled has many calling him the original "Ratatouille" himself. "Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired's" primary fixation is on the authoritative & unethical judicial control that Judge Laurence Rittanband presided over through the Polanski case. However, there is a bit more Polanskism to the doc including: his turbulent childhood as a Holocaust survivor, the murder of his wife Sharon Tate & unborn son by the hands of the Manson Family, and his directorial hits "Chinatown" & "Rosemary's Baby". "The Penis" (Oops! That was a Polanskian Slip of the Tongue!) I mean "The Pianist" was mentioned in the doc to a certain extent. Director Marina Zenovich does a credible job in spotlighting the eccentric nature of Polanski, but gets a bit too overwhelmed on Judge Rittanband's power trip! But maybe I am wrong, so I will let you be the judge of that. There is a lot to like and dislike about Polanski, and that is showcased in the documentary. You will be more intrigued by The Polanski after watching the documentary which will cause you to dwell into the Polanski "You Tube" files, with a few stops along the way at Sharon Tate & Charles Manson's "You Tube" video villages. Due to the Director's controversial nature, "Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired" will no be wanted and desired by many, but it is still recommended to visit Polanskiland for a good couple of hours. **** Good