Roman Polanski is back in the headlines, but not because of a new movie release. He is the main character in a book, to be published in September, called ‘The Girl: A Life in the Shadow of Roman Polanski.’
Samantha Geimer, 48, has written the story of her relationship with Polanski 36 years ago. Well, maybe not exactly a ‘ relationship’ since, what she wrote about, was the incident in 1977 when she accused Polanski of raping her.
Polanski was initially charged on six felony counts. These included using drugs to facilitate a rape, child molestation and sodomy. He denied these charges but he did plead guilty to one count of unlawful sexual intercourse. Agreeing to a plea bargain, a Los Angeles judge agreed to drop the remaining charges. and sentenced him to prison for a 90-day psychiatric evaluation.
After 42 days he was released when an evaluator certified him mentally sound and unlikely to offend again. However, the judge threatened further sanctions, and Polanski fled the United States.
Geimer has chosen a photograph of herself at age 13 for the cover of the book. The irony is that it was Polanski who took this picture at their first photo session together in her home. Even though they had only just met, Polanski persuaded her to go topless, and she agreed.
Three weeks later she alleged that Polanski drugged her and then raped her at Jack Nicholson’s home in Mulholland Drive. In addition to the drugs Geimer says that she was given alcohol and a quaalude.
Geimer says that her purpose in writing the book i s to help her reclaim her identity.’I am more than “Sex Victim Girl,”‘ she said. She continued: ‘I offer my story now without rage, but with purpose – to share a tale that in its detail will reclaim my identity. Atria Books, the publishers, say that the book will reveal many aspects of the story that have not been known until now.
Geimer sued Polanski in 1988, alleging sexual assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress and seduction. Five years later he agreed to pay her $500,000 to settle the claim, but a question has arisen as to whether he ever paid. Another element of the settlement was that Polanski was supposed to hand back all the photos. However, other photos were found years later, one of which was used for the book cover.
To this day, Polanski lives with the threat of an Interpol arrest warrant valid in 188 countries. But he still travels freely in both France and Switzerland, and the Swiss government refused to deport him back to the U.S. In 2010.
Samanther Geimer says that she forgives Roman Polanski – now aged 79 – and has joined his bid for dismissal of the charges.
Photo Credit: thelastreet12.wordpress.com