Due to the unending nature of real life, sequels to non-fiction films should be more common than they are. Documentary sequels do occasionally exist though, and the most necessary of these are the follow-ups to films involving inconclusive or controversial legal cases. Must-see examples include Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky's "Paradise Lost 2: Revelations" and Nick Broomfield's "Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer."
We may have another to add to that group now that Oscar-winning director Roman Polanski ("Chinatown") has been arrested and faces extradition on 32-year-old statutory rape charges. Filmmaker Marina Zenovich, whose brilliantly constructed 2008 film "Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired," shed new light on the 1977 trial, has reportedly gone to Switzerland to further document the case. It's not clear if she is interested in making another feature doc or simply looking to supplement "Wanted and Desired" with new footage in the form of an epilogue.
If Zenovich is interested in making "Wanted and Desired 2," she may have some competition from "Rush Hour" director Brett Ratner. Coincidentally, just prior to Polanski's arrest, while a guest on BlogTalk Radio's "Movie Geeks United" show, Ratner discussed plans to produce a sort of sequel to "Wanted and Desired." Unlike Zenovich's original film, Ratner's doc would feature an interview with Polanski, who also appeared as a detective in Ratner's "Rush Hour 3." Ratner recently produced the acclaimed documentary "I Knew It Was You: Rediscovering John Cazale."
Could this be the first time there's been dueling documentary sequels? And might it cause double trouble for Polanski despite the fact both films would likely be more favorable to his side in the case? Zenovich's film did lead to a new attempt to have the case dismissed (the motion was denied), yet ironically "Wanted and Desired" could also be blamed for influencing Polanski's recent arrest since it brought renewed attention to the case as well.
Documentaries aren't necessarily good for helping a cause, nor should that be their purpose, in my opinion. So, regardless of what influence either of these two potential films have on Polanski's legal matter, given the quality of Zenovich and Ratner's past non-fiction work, I'd be interested in seeing both of their perspectives if they do simultaneously end up with their own Polanski docs.
Would you like to see a sequel to "Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired" that follows these current and whatever future events? Would you rather see Zenovich's or Ratner's follow-up, or might you be interested in both?
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