12/02/2010

The pan-Scandinavian distribution group NonStop Entertainment has acquired Marina Zenovich’s documentary Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired from The Weinstein Company.

The HBO/BBC co-production was picked up a few days before today’s screening of Polanski’s The Ghost Writer [+see also:
trailer
film profile] in official competition at the Berlinale. Actors Pierce Brosnan, Ewan McGregor and Olivia Williams and writer Robert Harris will defend the film today in the absence of the world celebrated director, held under house arrest in Switzerland.

In 1977, Polanski was arrested in Los Angeles on charges he gave drugs and had sex with a 13-year-old girl while photographing her for Vogue. Eleven months later, having pled guilty to one count, he fled to Europe before sentencing.

Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired examines that year-long period, using archival footage of the media frenzy and of Polanski's life before the charges, clips from his films, and contemporary interviews with many of the principles – attorneys, the victim, and Polanski's friends and associates, including Nicolas Cage, Michael Caine and Pedro Almodóvar.

Nonstop will release the film across Scandinavia.