Roman Polanski Attends Swiss Jazz Festival

MONTREUX, Switzerland — Roman Polanski has made his first public appearance since being released this week from house arrest, attending the Montreux Jazz Festival on Saturday to watch his wife perform on stage.

The 76-year-old film director arrived at the Lake Geneva festival Saturday evening in a sport utility vehicle with tinted windows. When he emerged, he brushed his fingers through his hair – a trademark gesture – then was ushered into an elevator. Security personnel protected him from an eager crush of photographers.

Polanski's wife, the actress and singer Emmanuelle Seigner, performed shortly after his arrival, wearing a flannel shirt, a black hat and jeans.

In an interview earlier Saturday with Swiss television, excerpts of which were broadcast on France-2 television, Polanski thanked "the millions of people who kept sending me messages of support during those nine long months."

"I would also certainly thank my wife Emmanuelle (and) my children, without whom I would have never been able to hold onto my dignity and perseverance," Polanski said.

The Oscar-winning director was freed Monday from seven months of house arrest at his Swiss chalet when Switzerland's government refused to extradite him to the United States. Before that, he served two months in prison as the Swiss government pondered whether he should be handed over to U.S. authorities to be sentenced for having sex with a 13-year-old girl in 1977.

Polanski still faces an Interpol warrant in effect for 188 countries.

"For the moment, I'm happy to be free and to be able to do the things I was kept from doing," Polanski said.

He said his son cut off the electronic bracelet that Swiss authorities had required him to wear while he was under house arrest.

"They told me to throw it away, that's it," Polanski said of the authorities. His son "couldn't stand it anymore," so he was given "the privilege" of removing the tracking device.

Seigner never mentioned her husband during an hour-long performance, but said she was "very happy" to be in Montreux. Polanski didn't appear on stage and it was unclear where he might have watched the concert from.

"That was the theme to 'Rosemary's Baby,'" Seigner said after her first song – a reference to the 1968 film directed by Polanski.

___

AP correspondent Jenny Barchfield in Paris contributed to this report.

Comments

[AT Cooper]

12:47 AM on 08/23/2010

Los Angeles DA Steve Cooley on Polanski – Oct 1st 2009 and talking about more charges for Roman Polanski - how the business is unfinished, and how extradition should work in Roman Polanski's case, so that Roman Polanski can foot the bill for his extradition and case in Los Angeles County

http://ht.salemweb.net/townhall/audio/mp3/7d95189a-d2d0-41a8-8a3b-b694fb06a0e2.mp3

[JLRoberson]

10:01 PM on 07/27/2010

Hope he chokes on a snack.

[jackbutler5555]

08:42 PM on 07/26/2010

Stefan Dembowski:

Lebowski, your last comment to me did not pass scrutiny of the moderators. Don't worry. It's not because it lacked substance and the moderators thought to discourage you from debating without content. It was just because you used a bad word. Not knowing enough to have a meaningful discussion is quite permissible on HuffPo. As you already know.

[cherokeesister]

11:24 AM on 07/20/2010

To me at this point it doesn't matter. Polanski may be a great film maker, there is no question he's had a life full of tragedy. But there are some things that no matter how you justify, he can never be given a pass on. By his own admission he had sex with a 13 yr old when he was 40, who it was claimed was drugged, raped and sodomized.
Regardless of any other argument there is out there regarding the legal situation around him, surely this is it? The do not pass go, collect $200 moment?
I'm sure there are plenty of men who, being in the same position would have been happy to have only received the 'slap on the wrist' Polanski received to begin with. Just read the news, its full of this stuff, but those guys are getting hard time.
Double standard? Most assuredly.
He's managed to prevail, but for me the stain to his reputation, by this one act far out-ways all he has managed to accomplish.

[suemj]

11:12 AM on 07/20/2010

What a coward! I still think that he should get on a plane to America to face his crime; But then again, he's a coward, so he's still on the lam after decades running.

[Jazz88105]

08:14 AM on 07/20/2010

I think we should send in the FBI to arrest him like they do the drug lords. This man is a child rapist and should be brought to justice.

[S Richmond]

04:43 AM on 07/20/2010

The first appearance of Polanski in Switzerland is at a Jazz Festival where his wife Emmanuelle Seigner is singing music from Rosemary’s Baby!

Coincidence? No!

It took Swiss Justice to say no to the devil of injustice that lives on in the Santa Monica, courtroom, that is assisted by Federal Court Judges, Magistrates, including those who ratified the Torture Memos,

which means that sexual assault victims who have been re-victimized by police assault and battery, and Santa Monica Judges covering up, are then victimized again by Federal Judges with Dog and Pony show decisions, that use bait and switch justice, over a period of 12 years to continue the torture.

Thanks to Swiss Justice, Roman Polanski was rescued, when American justice failed.

In refusing to extradite Polanski, and by not pandering to California's PRECIOUS DOUBLE STANDARD, Swiss Justice has also given a measure of relief to sexual assault victims in California.

since California fails its sexual assault victims, some who have been assaulted and battered in the Santa Monica Courthouse for reporting police cover up of a sexual assault complaint.

A Santa Monica Judge has permitted bait and switch justice and police thuggery in his Courtroom to intimidate a foreign born sexual assault victim, in Roman Polanski's case bait and switch justice was used by a different Santa Monica Judge to torture Roman Polanski by the Judge breaking the plea bargain agreement.

Can you see the devil yet? It is the unreliable American Justice in the next room.

[wwoody]

10:07 AM on 07/20/2010

Very good point.

[sfkjeld]

11:09 AM on 07/20/2010

Did the LA Court make a mistake? Yes. A 45day sentence for drugging and raping a minor was ludicrous. They never needed a plea, there was more than enough evidence to prosecute. I would be happy to see that DA and judge do some time as well. But Polanski on the street now is disgusting. But as so many posters have said here, "it's Chinatown Jake".

[jackbutler5555]

12:12 PM on 07/20/2010

Should the sentence have been the same as others in the same situation at the time? If so, what would that sentence be?

[S Richmond]

08:31 PM on 07/20/2010

The crime agreed to in Los Angeles was not drugging or raping a minor.

Got your knickers in a twist? You should get your facts straight!

And if the facts don't matter to you - well nothing more to say

[Lamirabelle]

03:26 AM on 07/20/2010

It's unbelievable that the US authorities refuse to send records to Switzerland but expect the country to hand over someone. Switzerland would clearly be at fault if they had extradited him.
Since there was an audition dealing with his sentencing, the US justice has to show that there was no deal saying that after 45 days of jail he was free. They can't get away with : "it's secret".

But this is true for any accused man or woman supposed to be extradited. Or at least it should be. I don't see how any other democratic country could extradite Polanski or anybody else in this situation after this.
A deal is a deal.

[wwoody]

03:48 AM on 07/20/2010

Good insight, fanned.

[S Richmond]

09:28 PM on 07/20/2010

I don't know where you live Lamirabelle but it is not unbelievable to me since there is much corruption in Santa Monica and Los Angeles California as far as how the authorities act.

Also California's law and County of Los Angeles Judge Peter Espinoza's order to seal original Los Angeles prosecutor Roger Gunson's testimony given this year did not work,

since Switzerland's Justice required certainty and transparency for extradition purposes. And the US Justice plus California Justice were not prepared to be transparent

So by Switzerland's Justice requesting Roger Gunson's sealed testimony so they say now - and the US refusal - this paved the way for Roman Polanski's freedom. Thank God!

[foosballmaster]

02:51 AM on 07/20/2010

Relax guys. Given how the mentally ill Jack Butler supports Polanski, it won't be long before he gets caught by Chris Hansen in his show.

[jackbutler5555]

06:10 AM on 07/20/2010

Please debate the issues. When you don't, it calls into question whether you are ready for prime time at The Huffington Post. Insults are no substitute for preparation.

[Tre Ming]

04:34 AM on 08/06/2010

Don't be mean to Jack. And some don't know what you mean by Chris Hansen.

[foosballmaster]

02:05 AM on 07/20/2010

Just when you think Sharia law is bad, Roman Polanski comes along. He deserves nothing less.

[hugh jasse]

10:02 PM on 07/19/2010

The lab report showed semen on her underpants. The vaginal and anal swabs were negative. If you look, you might find where that was reported.

[jackbutler5555]

11:57 PM on 07/19/2010

The semen supports what Polanski admitted doing -- if, in fact, it was his semen. The findings, as I recall, were, to be precise, a faint substance consistent with semen.

That was reported in the Probation Officer's report, which can be found on smokinggun. He was quoting from the results of the rape kit examination by doctors. It showed no evidence of the offenses that were detailed by the victim other than the possibility of sexual intercourse. There was no indication when that intercourse could have taken place, but since Polanski admitted to the unlawful sex, it would not be critical to the case.

[hugh jasse]

01:40 AM on 07/20/2010

@ jack,
This is only my personal opinion. The details left out of the noise posts are telling. The Swiss seem to be able to filter out the noise and consider the facts, just the facts.

[wwoody]

03:43 AM on 07/20/2010

Good point, Jack.

[Roger Thorland]

08:57 PM on 07/19/2010

Jack Butler:

Pseudo-pundit and law school drop-out.

[jackbutler5555]

09:01 PM on 07/19/2010

When people can't debate, they resort to insults. It's the only way they can skip over the part where they have to defend their position.

But maybe I got you wrong. Why don't you take me on a substantive issue -- if you can?

[rr1959]

11:22 PM on 07/19/2010

How do you feel about the comment Polanski is said to have made at the time to the effect that others would like to do what he did? Would you like to do those things?

[Roger Thorland]

11:59 PM on 07/19/2010

Sorry Jackie Boy, I'm not sitting at my screen continually hitting refresh like you. This is the internet, I'm not required to respond to anyone with anything less than contempt and juvenile derision. I could care less whether you can debate international law or not.

I take it you are an intelligent person but not willing to debate people who can mount a substantive rebuttal. I very much doubt there are any legal experts commenting on this particular story including me. And that's the way you like it because you can just troll along feeling superior.

You're like an astronaut lecturing people on a crowded street corner about jet propulsion. You know you're not going to find an astrophysicist in the crowd who can ably challenge you but you keep on sputtering.

[S Richmond]

09:04 PM on 07/20/2010

Why does Roger Thorland need to throw stones at Jack. What has Jack done to you?

[jackbutler5555]

05:44 PM on 07/23/2010

Roger has been too busy to respond. He's been delivering his opinion of the fake breast and nude celebrity forums.

[Bobby Hoemack]

08:46 PM on 07/19/2010

"arrived... in a sport utility vehicle with tinted windows."
I always pictured a windowless van.

[espressobeans]

08:01 PM on 07/19/2010

Oh, isn't that special.

[Aitch5]

07:28 PM on 07/19/2010

I am really curious as to what Roman and Emanuelle have told their children about the cause of their Father's legal troubles.
"Daddy did the crime but the girl forgave him so he should be left alone."
. 'Daddy didn't do this heinous crime he is accused of; the American legal system was out to get him."
" This girl came on to Daddy and he did what any man would do and the Americans wanted to castrate him."
"The Americans want revenge becasue Daddy is a foreigner."
Really? I am perplexed as to what the Polanskis are telling their kids who are something like 13 and 18 years now.

[jackbutler5555]

08:02 PM on 07/19/2010

Are you really perplexed about a matter involving somebody else's family? Or, are you just take another shot at Polanski?

[Mister Biggles]

08:05 PM on 07/19/2010

I would like to party with his teenage daughter in a hot tub with drugs and a tube of lube...and according to Polanski and all of his supporters...there is NOTHING wrong with it.

Right?

[jackbutler5555]

08:33 PM on 07/19/2010

When someone comes up with an out-of-left-field comment, I wonder whether s/he actually believes it or is just throwing stuff against the wall to see what will stick.

Who here has said "there is NOTHING wrong with it (unlawful sex with a minor)."

Do you know what the capable debaters are discussing? Puerility doesn't elevate the discussion.

[jackbutler5555]

09:16 PM on 07/19/2010

"Check his archives...80% of his posts are defending Polanski. You won't make an ounce of headway, just FYI. "

Mister Biggles:

Do you have anything of substance to say? Or, will you continue sneaking around taking shots in comments to other posters.

BTW, zero percent of my postings defend Polanski. My postings on the Polanski blogs focus on due process. I know nothing of what took place between Polanski and Samantha and neither do you.

To gain respect among competent posters here, you'll have to dig into the subject a bit more than you have.