The Girl, based on Samantha Geimer’s memoir, will revisit ‘one of Hollywood’s most notorious scandals through the eyes of the person most misrepresented by it’

The Girl, based on Samantha Geimer’s memoir, will revisit ‘one of Hollywood’s most notorious scandals through the eyes of the person most misrepresented by it’

A new movie will explore the notorious Roman Polanski statutory rape scandal from the perspective of the 13-year-old girl, Samantha Geimer.

The Girl, based on Geimer’s 2013 memoir The Girl: A Life in the Shadow of Roman Polanski, will trace her time in the famous director’s orbit in the 1970s, her experience being subjected to sexual assault and the media maelstrom that followed after Polanski, then 43, was arrested in 1977 on charges of statutory rape and lewd and lascivious act with a child.

Polanski, the acclaimed director of such films as Rosemary’s Baby and Chinatown, admitted to statutory rape in a plea bargain to avoid more serious charges, but fled to France the following year after serving 42 days in jail. He has been a fugitive from the US ever since.

  • Vanth@reddthat.comEnglish
    6·
    7 months ago

    I am conflicted. I don’t know what I want out of this movie. I don’t want anything at all that casts a positive light on child rapist Roman Polanski, yet I want to respect Ms. Geimer’s wishes and see that if anyone profits from all this that it be her, yet I can’t help but feel like this is still somehow exploiting her.

    What I really want is for France and the film industry worldwide to stop pandering to this admitted child rapist. So many interesting voices out there and we have to waste even a moment’s thought on this crusty old pervert.

  • AllNewTypeFace@leminal.space
    2·
    7 months ago

    There is a better parallel universe in which Obama ordered the CIA to Eichmann Polanski out of France and into a US courtroom.

        • Ilandar@lemmy.today
          172·
          7 months ago

          Victims are often reduced to a stereotype or forgotten so it’s important that their stories are told too. You’re making the assumption that the only perspective this film can offer is that of a rape victim; in other words, the victim is just someone who was raped and nothing more.

          • JohnnyEnzyme@piefed.socialEnglish
            61·
            7 months ago

            The film Lilya 4-ever was both informational and moving for me, about a young Slavic woman who wanted to escape the misery of her squalid surroundings, but in trying to break out, fell in to a web of sex-slave traffickers.

            The Polanski stuff was pretty much before my time, so I’d similarly like to see a movie about this woman’s life.

            • Ilandar@lemmy.today
              61·
              7 months ago

              What are you saying? You’ve continued to reiterate that no one would need to “experience that perspective” in relation to the victim. Why not? What shouldn’t their story be explored on screen?

                • Ilandar@lemmy.today
                  6·
                  7 months ago

                  Are you saying the film is exploitative? The one based on the Geimer’s memoir? The one made in collaboration with/with the blessing of Geimer?

                  Geimer, who has since forgiven Polanski and remained in periodic contact with him, said in statement: “This story has been a lifelong burden for all of us involved. I never imagined it could be transformed into something beautiful. Marina’s creativity and sensitivity made that possible – and that, to me, is a gift.”