Roman Polanski rape victim, Samantha Geimer has written a book. The cover photo is above. The cover is also getting a lot of press because it is a photo that was taken by Roman Polanski of Samantha a few days before he raped her at the age of 13.Appropriate? Helpful for her emotional healing?
shock sells, that's all
ReplyDeletebut anything that drags Roman through the mud, I am all for.
Since she got possession of this and the other photographs he took during "discovery" in her lawsuit, and since it shows us exactly what she was just before Polanski drugged and orally, vaginally and anally raped her while she was begging him to stop, I think this cover picture is very much appropriate.
ReplyDeleteshe deserves the money - but let's be honest - her mother practically prostituted the child - not that what Polanski did wasn't despicable - but she was offerred up to him!
ReplyDeleteShe was the one attacked, only her opinion of whether or not it's appropriate or helpful really counts.
ReplyDeleteBut let's be honest, all the coverage I've seen of the book centers around her use of a pic taken by Polanski. Her publisher is certainly working it for all its worth to make those sales.
I recall that she has previously asked that the whole thing kind of be forgotten -- I think mostly b/c she wanted to move on with her life, less about forgiving her rapist. But if she gets some money out of it, it's her story to tell, I guess.
But I gotta endorse anything that reminds the world that Roman Polanski drugged and sodomized a thirteen-year-old girl. Fucker. There is no excuse. And it chaps my ass that he's a free man who ran from serving his time and is defended by so many.
At this late date, clearly her objective is to make money by sensationalizing what happened to her. It's the way of the world now I know, but I feel less inclined toward her as a result.
ReplyDeleteI think she is the only one who can answer those questions. But the photograph is powerful.
ReplyDeleteI'm prepared to take a lot of flack for this, but here's my take.
ReplyDeleteYes, Polanski is a miserable excuse for a human being.
Yes, he deserves to be punished for his actions.
However, that being said, I don't forsee his ever actually serving time for his crimes, and while I refuse to debate the therapeutic merits of his victim's book, I will say that it frankly reeks of commercialism and an attempt to profit from this tragedy that this book is published now.
Is it going to further damage his reputation? No.
Is it going to help a prosecutor create a case? No.
Why was it written? Because someone wanted money. Plain and simple.
I wouldn't be surprised if an offer wasn't floated to the Polanski camp for non publication.
But then again, I'm jaded.
@ Merlin, the point is to make sure people remember what he did, and if he ever returns to this country throw him in prison for his crimes. If Hollywierd had their way, they would throw him a parade! For some reason in ollywierd they don't believe it is a crime to take this kind of advantage over children.
ReplyDeleteI would rather she write the book and make money off of it than him. A lot of people will say of a woman who's been cheated on by her husband "she should get him for all he's worth!" Why can't a rape victim say "if people won't stop talking about it then why SHOULDN'T I make some money." Who are we to judge her.
ReplyDeleteI hope she takes a small portion of her advance and pays a couple of Ukrainian heavies to hunt him down, cut off his junk and stuff it down his throat.
ReplyDeleteWhy do I find your idea so awesome???
DeleteI think it is a compelling portrait of how POLANSKI saw her. This isn't some selfie, this is how the perpetrator saw his victim and her use of it forces us to see what he coveted, took and ultimately destroyed.
ReplyDeleteCommercial? Sure.
Why shouldn't she FINALLY get some compensation. Her story is intimately linked to his, it gets more mention then Sharon Tate!
No reporter has let it go and it's a cycle of continual abuse as each reporter tries to get "the real story" year after year, story after story.
GET IT GIRL! Fuck Him UP!
For ONCE in your life, be the lead his name is linked to!
Amen.
DeleteAgreed. This makes my stomach turn because she looks and is SO young. Polanski is a monster. If this helps his victim in any way wheter it be financial, provide closure or whatever, I am for it.
DeleteI wish I could buy a copy and send it to Johnny Depp.
Sadly, girls are still being preyed upon in Hollywood everyday.
ReplyDeleteI with Shakira....it's her story to tell and she should be the one to profit from it. Maybe this is therapeutic for her as well. I can't judge this woman. I think the photo is a powerful statement and is appropriate.
ReplyDeleteWell this is an historic day. I agree with something the Count said.
ReplyDeleteIf it worked for Jimmy Page and Elvis,the problem is ......
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that she's able to tell her own story in her own words and in her own time frame. Kudos to her.
ReplyDelete@ The Dude. No one in Hollyweird would survive if they started stoning those that rape children and the one's that profit from looking the other way. Just think.......
ReplyDeleteI'm glad she wants to face what happened and maybe make him pay emotionally at least...
ReplyDeleteIt's her book. It's her life. Maybe this is her way of taking ownership of her person again, rather than repeatedly being victimized over and over each time his name comes up in the press. I think it's powerful. And brave.
ReplyDeleteI dunno. History is written by the victors, and if she doesn't get her story out there, 50 years from now this may be seen as a great injustice to the mighty Polanski. Some already see it that way now.
ReplyDeleteErrol Flynn was also accused of of statutory rape - although the victims were much older - and in film histories, it's mostly treated like a joke.
He is a miserable SOB and deserves to be publicly ostracized at every opportunity....
ReplyDeleteIf this is her way of doing it then fine-its her choice
the pic is fine and does show her as who she was at the time prior to his ATTACK or the way he must have seen her
I have no judgment on her-only him and the Hollywood nut jobs who have supported him all these years
I think she's motivated by money, and I'm 100% okay with this. She deserves something, because it's not like she'll ever get justice through the legal system.
ReplyDeleteI'm curious about what her stance is in the book. She's previously come out and said she doesn't want Roman jailed anymore, and wants the DA to drop the matter entirely. I felt at the time she was paid off by Roman and that motivated her statements.
However, the fucker fled the US to avoid punishment and deserves jail time for that action too.
All I can think is, how many young girls stayed silent?? U know there was probably hundreds of girls at his disposal through that period of time....what a stinking, disgusting piece of shit.
ReplyDeleteIf anyone is interested, you can read her evidence statement on The Smoking Gun. It seems she had a messed up childhood - was regularly using drugs and alcohol, and had already lost her virginity (by consent) to a boyfriend. Prime target for a paedo like Polanski.
ReplyDeleteI hesitate to say with authority that this woman cannot do what she wants with her own image.
ReplyDelete@Dewie: That is because you are filled with hate. I respect that. I just don't like how it manifests at times.
ReplyDeleteNow that your cherry is popped, we can have some fun together.
___________________________________
You will ALL come over to the Dark Side eventually. The more you fight it, the more I enjoy it, and the sweeter it is when you finally give yourself over to it.
Count Jerkula, SuperStar.
I remember when I was 13, and had no clue. I'm sure this little girl was the same. I see that picture and I don't see a teenager beyond her years. I see a 13 year old innocent little girl.
ReplyDeleteShe admitted she wasn't a virgin at the time, so she wasn't so innocent.
DeleteSo not the point. Having sex against your will is horrifically traumatic. It doesn't matter if she had sex before with consent. This is a CHILD. Even less able to deal with repercussions of an assault by a person in power.
DeleteDon't mean to come at you, this case really gets at me and I see a lot of victim blaming statements (most not intentional). It does not matter if she walked into his house naked, got drunk and passed out. NO ONE ever has the right to assault another person.
I think that picture speaks more than any other older image could. She's just a kid. I don't acer what her mother did, altho that's an abomination, Polanski still took advantage of her. It's her story to tell. Maybe she wants to get out the truth because there's been so much speculation. She's remained silent so long when she could have spoken, I don't get the sense this is all about money.
ReplyDeleteShe hasn't really been silent. She's appeared in two recent documentaries regarding the case.
ReplyDeleteI think it's perfect, as it shows a normal girl who is oblivious that her life is about to be destroyed by the very man taking the picture. This is a last image of her privacy, her psychological freedom & innocence of what evils exist in the world.
ReplyDeleteAny one of us could be this girl. Her molester/rapist just happens to be famous.
(IDK enough about the book to form an opinion as to her motive for writing it, I'm talking about the choice of cover.)
I think its brilliant. It shows how young she really was. And Ugh on Polanski. How the man still works and has people defending him is beyond me.
ReplyDeleteI think its brilliant. It shows how young she really was. And Ugh on Polanski. How the man still works and has people defending him is beyond me.
ReplyDeleteI'm all for it. It's her thing and only hers.
ReplyDeleteAgree, it is her story to tell her way.
ReplyDeleteIt's her life, her rape. She can do whatever she wants.
ReplyDeleteThat rapist polanski would be better in jail, as sean penn would be because of the rape, torture and kidnap he did to madonna, and many others.
@iheartjacksparrow Do you accept rapes to non-virgins? Are you a muslim (that's what lots of them think)? Would you like to be 3 holes raped by my 4 inches wonder?
EVERYONE is too innocent to be raped. Please look up the definition of 'rape', and remember it could happen to anyone, male or female.
ReplyDeleteVictims feel a loss of control. I think this is a good thing for her to feel like the case is in her control now. And 100 years from now someone can find her side of the story, and not just his and the courts. Good for her.
ReplyDeleteWow, I just read the Grand Jury minutes on the smoking gun website. I knew Polanski did this but never read the details. He took her to Jack Nicholsons house. A dark haired woman was at the house and spoke with the girl, must have known what was going on. Disgusting. I wonder if that was Angelica Huston?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe plain truth is, prosecutors f*cked up the case. When you have the JUDGE telling the defendant "RUN!" you know it's f*cked up. Even Samantha has publicly said she supports Polanski's efforts to get the case dismissed.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad she wrote a book. I'll read it. I'm always open to hearing more about all sides of a story, because there always more than two.
I hope Johnny Depp and all the other blinded by art morons in Hollywood take a good look at the young face of this child and be reminded of their own children... And then envision them being drugged up and raped vaginally and anally while pleading for mercy and to stop... And then have Hollywood embrace the monster. Because he's talented. Sick f*ck flock of foolios. I think the picture is totally appropriate, so long as the survivor chose it. Her desire for anonymity was destroyed when the case was brought up again. Better the world see the real victim, this child, and not the survivor as an adult 40 years later. See the CHILD. Whose innocence was savagely and brutally taken in a sick, pedophilic act of violence, cruelty and disturbed domination.
ReplyDeleteI think because of what Polanski went through with the Manson murders people feel some sort of sympathy ...I dont of course.
ReplyDeleteI think because of what Polanski went through with the Manson murders people feel some sort of sympathy ...I dont of course.
ReplyDeleteMerlin D Bear, let's take what you said and I could come to a different conclusion. When your perpetrator has escaped justice and looks like he will to continue to, and you can't get real closure, isn't revenge, a possible catharsis and helping just one girl who either experienced the same thing or to prevent just one girl from being put in the same position be worth all the scorn of those who say you are just doing it for the money? And if she is doing it for the money so what. Therapists are expensive. Do we know if any statement has been made as to where the proceeds of the book are going?
ReplyDeleteHard to know if Polanski was any different before or during his marriage to Tate or he became the predator after that. In any event his tragedy does not give him licence to hurt other people and this girl was not the only one. The only one who could pin anything on him. This kind of predator is prolific in the entertainment and fashion industry. Along with parents who are willing to sell their kids, remember those Michael Jackson sleepovers, in essence to gain fame or favor.
Young people need to understand that.
Prolly a cultural thing, age is just a number when it comes to sex in other parts of the world. Y'all know how those Euro dudes are .
ReplyDeleteJudging by the book cover, she wasn't cute to begin with. Roman could've did better than that.
ReplyDeleteI think the BEST photo is this one. The one before she was raped, as others have said. It's also important to remember that *this* girl will always carry that horrific event with her, well into her senior years, no matter what she looks like now.
ReplyDelete@just curious: your 'shock factor' attention whoring really is boring & juvenile.
Not the first time I've gotten that response . It's always coming from mature adults with short attention spans but easily amused.
DeleteI don't think this will do a thing to Polanski, but it is her story, and if it helps her--either emotionally or financially, good for her, and she deserves as an adult to be able to tell her story.
ReplyDeleteShe looks a lot like my niece. She could be anyone's niece or daughter. I don't know if I'll be able to read that book due to my own personal issues, but I hope it brings her peace.
ReplyDeleteI also hope it gives Pedo-lanski an aneurysm so big, his eyes pop out.
I always hope for the best.
I really don't care if it is appropriate or emotionally healing. She can do what she bloody well pleases as far as I am concerned. If she makes a ton of money, and I hope she does, and if she did it solely for money, it can never repay her for what was taken from her without her consent. Will it be emotionally healing? I don't see how it could not be, on whatever level for whatever reason. I have no criticism of her. There is no sensationalism that I can see on her part: she has been quiet for so long......and even if she hadn't. I am 100% in her corner. I have no criticism of her. I don't care what her reasons are. She has carte blanche and she can write the check.
ReplyDeleteCount Jerkula FTW!
ReplyDeleteFascinating how much judgement is thrown her way for using her own photograph on her own book cover to tell her own story, but so many movie stars stand behind Polanski because it wasn't rape-rape, even though the convicted rapist fled country to avoid jail time. But hey, she wasn't a virgin when she was raped, it's all good. (You, iheartjacksparrow, are an asshole. Virginity isn't a rape RSVP.)
ReplyDeleteI love how yet again, her pimping mother gets a pass here.
ReplyDeleteHere is something that I wish someone would write about. I have wondered about it every now and then....Someone here said that a dark haired woman greeted the child and therefore must have known what was going on. Hate that, because I loved Angelica Huston. Hate that. But what I was going to say was that NO ONE, EVER has mentioned Jack Nicolson. Never. If anyone aided and abetted, it was him. He didn't know? He didn't hear her cries for help? He is given more of a pass than Polanski. I don't get it at all. I wish Enty would write about that angle. Please.
ReplyDeleteHe wasn't there Bessie.
ReplyDelete