Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired

In 1977, director Roman Polanski was untouchable. Film such as ROSEMARY'S BABY and CHINATOWN had cemented his reputation, and he staged a successful return to filmmaking following the death of his wife, Sharon Tate, in '69. But his appetite for narcotics and free love landed him in serious trouble with the law after an ill-fated photo shoot with 13-year-old Samantha Gailey led to full sexual intercourse. ROMAN POLANSKI: WANTED AND DESIRED is a documentary that looks at the court case and media feeding frenzy that followed Polanski's arrest in '77. Director Marina Zenovich takes an intriguing approach by focusing less on the incident itself, and more on the actions of the judge who presided over the case. Polanski isn't interviewed, but key figures such as the two opposing lawyers and Gailey all step forward to offer a harsh critique of judge Laurence Rittenband's handling of the trial.

Zenovich's film is a real triumph. She expertly blends archival footage of Polanski with current-day reflec...