Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired

Although the parties differ on the details, we can be certain of at least one thing: Roman Polanski did something foul with 13-year-old model Samantha Geimer in 1977. However, Marina Zenovich’s HBO documentary Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired also provides irrefutable proof that his resulting court case was a sham trial marked by judge tampering and media shamelessness. One deputy district attorney is so giddy about his role in perverting justice, Polanski’s bail-jumping exile to France becomes understandable and even sympathetic. Wanted and Desired is evenhanded and intelligent, with just one shortcoming: Polanski is seen and heard only through archival footage, and thus the scarred elfin genius remains a public cipher.