The documentary “Roman Polanski: Wanted & Desired” comes out this weekend in limited release. We thought we’d give our review a little play again.
Director: Marina Zenovich
As the title overtly suggests, there’s a schism in the perception of Polish filmmaker Roman Polanski. In Europe he’s desired and considered one of cinema’s giants. In America, he’s viewed as gifted filmmaker turned monster and rapist. In Zenovich’s unflinching portrayal of the director and his scandalous crime and notorious trial both of these viewpoints are evenly investigated (though monster might be a little much). It’s even-keeled and mostly non-partisan, but the filmmaker can’t hide her slightly sympathetic view – at least where his trial is concerned, but you can’t blame her. No quarter is given to Polanski’s crimes, but the trial and the unscrupulous judge who presided over it is shown in his full dodgy light (both attorneys have little positive to say about his underhanded tactics and his blatant bending of the law; even those who thought they knew everything about this story will be surprised). Somewhat less of a depiction of a filmmaker gone astray, ‘Wanted & Desired,’ ends up being ultimately becomes more bogged down in being an expose of askewed justice rather than a deep examination of a man’s actions and its this little disconnect that prevents the film from truly fulfilling its promising ideas. But it’s still worth watching and an intriguing film to be sure. [B+]