The Salva and Polanski Issue
I think we can agree that Hollywood can be a weird and crazy place to be. There have been many accounts of favoritism, bribery, blackmail, and other such activities. Then we have the hanging cloud of Victor Salva and Roman Polanski and their run-ins with the law. They both have made worthwhile films (Polanski more so than Salva), but what as we movie fans to do when these directors are known sex offenders?
I think we all know Victor Salva's story regarding the rape of his 12 year old star in the movie Clownhouse. It makes watching that movie rather uncomfortable actually. Well, Salva is a registered sex offender and has rightly done time. His career definitely suffered although he has done some more films (namely Jeepers Creepers 1 & 2). Polanski is a much more acclaimed director with movies like The Pianist, Chinatown, Rosemary's Baby, and Repulsion under his belt. He was accused of the sexual assault to a 13 year old girl and fled the country before sentencing and has never returned since.
So what are we as movie fans to do with these directors? I love some of Polanski's movies and I think Jeepers Creepers is a fun film, but it still bothers me due to the whole criminal background. When is it appropriate to separate art from reality? I don't believe they should be praised for what they done and yet I find myself watching their movies anyways. It is certainly an interesting situation to delve into. I still think Polanski should serve his time and that Salva's career should've ended right there at Clownhouse (Powder was a big WTF moment for me).
What do you schmoes think about this whole debacle?
Bored
I didn't actually know about Salva but I've heard the Polanski story before. He should do time but if he's out there making good film and we're going to see them then who are we to stop him. Hell Polanski is infamous for his assault change and he still gets big name stars to work with him and even got an Oscar in 2002. It's a fucked up system but the more famous you are the more you can get away with.
As soon as I found out about Salva I found I couldn't watch his flicks no more. What shocked me most though wasn't the crime ( which is shocking enough) but how any actor could work him ? I mean really? The same goes for Polanski.
They certainly shouldn't be praised for what they've done. I don't know a person who thinks praise for being a sex offender is warranted, but I think we should separate the art from the artists as neither reflects upon the other. Salva is a sex offender, but I love Jeepers Creepers, and Polanski raped an underage actress but his films are brilliant. I love most of his work.
In the same vein, Woody Allen had an affair with his preteen adopted daughter and used to take pictures of her naked, and he's still one of the most highly respected people in film, and I'm still a huge fan of his work. Alice in Wonderland is a love letter from the author to the child daughter of his friend. Rather than confessing his love and lust to the child, he wrote Alice in Wonderland as a love letter to her and gave it to her as a gift, and it's one of the most cherished works of fiction of all time.
It's just separating the art from the artist. 90 percent of the great artists of all time were not good people. They were scum, most of them lowlives, alcoholics, drug users, and the like. But if you ignore their work, you're missing out on some good stuff.
Regarding Alice In Wonderland. I'm almost sure that's just speculation. I saw a doc on it a while ago on TV and pretty much laid to rest all that rubbish.
@Anakin: That's not how I heard it. I heard it straight from the mouth of a literary professor.
it is an odd situation , as far as watching their Films goes . I love '' JEEPERS CREEPERS '' and I'm looking forward to the third entry . Polanski's '' REPULSION '' , '' CHINATOWN '' and '' ROSEMARY'S BABY '' are Films I adore as well . Yet the nature of their Crime's puts them among the lowest of the low , and it's a truly troubling Conundrum .