Do the sins of the past cancel artistic value? Or could artistry possibly redeem the sinner?
I just found out that the 42nd César Awards, France's national film awards ceremony, may not be having a jury president this year. This was caused when internationally renowned filmmaker Roman Polanski announced he will have to abandon this honor.
Under these circumstances, the academy didn't propose to someone else to lead the jury.
Marked by the scandal that rose after his nomination, Polanski decided not to accept the invitation.
Known worldwide as a brilliant director, Polanski offered the world of cinema such ageless classics like "Rosemary's Baby", "Chinatown" and, more recently, the multiple Academy Award Winner "The Pianist". However, it can surely be said that his personal life was at least as shocking as the themes of some of his movies: he was both victim, when his pregnant wife and movie actress, Sharon Tate, was murdered in 1969 together with her baby in the unspeakable killing spree of the Manson Family, marking him deeply, yet he was also in the role of an aggressor, when being accused in 1997 that, during a photo shoot in 1977, he raped 13-year-old Samantha Geimer, an act for which he pleaded guilty and went to jail for 42 days before fleeing to Paris.
The 42nd César Awards will be taking place on the 24th of February. Enough time, I hope, for finding a wise solution that manages to balance the moral code, valour and forgiveness.
