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| | Polanski and his Jewish father are [[Holocaust]] survivors. His Roman Catholic mother was murdered in [[Auschwitz]].<ref>IMDb: Biography for Roman Polanski[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000591/bio]</ref> | | Polanski and his Jewish father are [[Holocaust]] survivors. His Roman Catholic mother was murdered in [[Auschwitz]].<ref>IMDb: Biography for Roman Polanski[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000591/bio]</ref> |
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| − | He acquired fame in the 1960's and 70s for horrorful tales of the supernatural, famously ''Rosemary's Baby'' (about [[Satanism]]) and ''Chinatown'' (about [[adultery]]). His films frequently included sexual perversions, including extended scenes of [[transvestism]] in ''The Tenant''. | + | He acquired fame in the 1960's and 70s after directing numerous acclaimed films, including ''Repulsion'' and ''Chinatown''. His films frequently deal with dark themes, including [[Satanism]] (as seen in [[Rosemary's baby]]), adultery and murder. His films frequently included sexual perversions, including extended scenes of [[transvestism]] in ''The Tenant''. |
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| | In 1969, while Polanski was on a business trip to London, his 8-months pregnant wife, Sharon Tate, and their unborn baby were brutally murdered by members of the Manson Family cult.<ref>IMDb: Biography for Roman Polanski[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000591/bio]</ref> | | In 1969, while Polanski was on a business trip to London, his 8-months pregnant wife, Sharon Tate, and their unborn baby were brutally murdered by members of the Manson Family cult.<ref>IMDb: Biography for Roman Polanski[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000591/bio]</ref> |
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| − | In 1978 he pleaded guilty to "unlawful sexual intercourse" with a thirteen-year-old girl. He fled the country immediately afterwards and prior to sentencing to avoid imprisonment. For almost thirty years he lived comfortably in [[France]], which refused to extradite him to the United States, where he remained free from legal consequences and unrepentant for his crime. | + | In 1978 he pleaded guilty to "unlawful sexual intercourse" with a thirteen-year-old girl. He fled the country immediately afterwards and prior to sentencing to avoid imprisonment. For almost thirty years he lived comfortably in [[France]], which refused to extradite him to the United States, where he remained free from legal consequences. |
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| | Polanski has escaped from being extradited several times: May 1978 in London, December 1986 in Canada, 1988 in Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Brazil. In June 1994, a request for arrest was made to France. In October 2005, while Polanski were in Thailand, a folder is passed to Interpol; no effect. In 2007, the filmmaker traveled in Israel; the Hebrew State requested more information to the Los Angeles Attorney, when the documents arrived, the filmmaker had gone. <ref> [http://www.lemonde.fr/cinema/article/2009/09/29/pour-les-etats-unis-polanski-c-est-trente-ans-de-cavale_1246741_3476.html#ens_id=1245879 Le Monde (In French)] </ref> | | Polanski has escaped from being extradited several times: May 1978 in London, December 1986 in Canada, 1988 in Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Brazil. In June 1994, a request for arrest was made to France. In October 2005, while Polanski were in Thailand, a folder is passed to Interpol; no effect. In 2007, the filmmaker traveled in Israel; the Hebrew State requested more information to the Los Angeles Attorney, when the documents arrived, the filmmaker had gone. <ref> [http://www.lemonde.fr/cinema/article/2009/09/29/pour-les-etats-unis-polanski-c-est-trente-ans-de-cavale_1246741_3476.html#ens_id=1245879 Le Monde (In French)] </ref> |
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| − | In 2009, while visiting [[Switzerland]], he was seized by Swiss authorities, who, unlike the French, were unwilling to protect a [[pedophile]] just to stick it to the United States. He will soon be returned to the US to pay for his despicable actions. | + | In 2002, Polanski released ''The Pianist,'' an acclaimed film about Polish-born pianist Władysław Szpilman and his experiences during the Holocaust. The film won the 2003 ''[[Palme d'Or]]'' at the Cannes Film Festival and both the [[BAFTA]] and [[Academy Award]] for Best Directing.<ref>http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0253474/awards</ref> Polanski did not attend the ceremony, due to the charges against him, so actor Harrison Ford accepted the Oscar on Polanski's behalf. |
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| | + | In 2009, while in [[Switzerland]], he was arrested by Swiss authorities and held pending extradition to the United States to face the charges stemming from his 1977 arrest. |
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| | Polanski is a prime example of [[Hollywood values]] and more than 100 film industry figures have signed a petition calling for the release of Polanski. <ref>[http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2009/09/30/hollywoodans-support-polanski-push-his-release Hollywoodans Support Polanski, Push For His Release, NewsBusters.org, September 30, 2009]</ref> | | Polanski is a prime example of [[Hollywood values]] and more than 100 film industry figures have signed a petition calling for the release of Polanski. <ref>[http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2009/09/30/hollywoodans-support-polanski-push-his-release Hollywoodans Support Polanski, Push For His Release, NewsBusters.org, September 30, 2009]</ref> |