CNN:
NEW YORK (CNN) -- When filmmaker Roman Polanski was arrested Saturday in Switzerland, he was on his way to accept an award for Lifetime Achievement at the Zurich Film Festival.
Polanski's friend, Swiss filmmaker Otto Weisser, was among the first to publicly run to his defense.
"This is for me a shock. I am ashamed to be Swiss, that the Swiss is doing such a thing to brilliant fantastic genius, that millions and millions of people love his work," Weisser said upon learning the director had been detained by Swiss authorities. "He's a brilliant guy, and he made a little mistake 32 years ago. What a shame for Switzerland."
By Tuesday, more than 130 heavyweights in the movie industry had taken up Polanski's cause.
An online petition has been signed by directors such as Martin Scorsese, Woody Allen and Pedro Almodovar, as well as actors.
Studio chief Harvey Weinstein told CNN in a statement: "We are calling every filmmaker we can to help fix this terrible situation."
Mind you, I understand Woody Allen, he's a creepy sex addict with a taste for young stuff who likes to keep it in the (sorta) family from way back. Ah, I do love this line from Otto Weisser: "He's a brilliant guy, and he made a little mistake 32 years ago." Weisser is now ashamed to be Swiss because the Swiss (never mind their tardiness on the issue of the warrant for the moment) chose to arrest... an admitted child rapist who fled justice. Not an accused child rapist. An admitted one.
Heh. Wonder if Mr. Weisser has the same sympathy for pedophile priests. Or pedophile anyone-not-an-artsy-type?
Color me with singer/actress Jewel, who tweeted, "Polanski admitted raping a 13 yr old-whys every1 in the arts upset hes facing jail? cause hes a gifted director? what am i missing?"
It's amazing both the bubble these people live in... and the fact that we, in a sense, allow them to live in such splendid isolation. But I suppose that's better than having them for neighbors.
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