Poles split over Polanski arrest

2nd October 2009

The arrest in Switzerland of Roman Polanski has divided Poles with the great and the good both rallying to support him or arguing that justice must be served.

The Oscar-winning director, a survivor of the Krakow ghetto, was detained by Swiss authorities on charges of having sex with a 13-year-old girl back in 1977 while he was living in the United States.

A number of Polanski’s colleagues from the world of Polish film leapt to his defence, with acclaimed director Andrzej Wajda starting a petition to get the 76-year-old released.

“The events of 30 years ago and Roman Polanski's role in them were morally reprehensible. But we draw attention to the fact that Polanski's departure from t ...