Polanski Case: “Chinatown” Director Should Know About L.A. Law

Marina Zenovich isn’t too pleased with Los Angeles District Attorney David Wells. Wells’s interview with Zenovich in her film, “Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired,” formed the foundation of her argument–that there was malfeasance with the D.A.’s office and Judge Rittenbrand in the original Polanski case circa 1978.

Now Wells says he lied to Zenovich on film, and recants his statements. There is not a ring of truth to Wells’s new statement. If he really lied on film, he would be eligible for an Oscar. And win.

Corruption in Los Angeles law enforcement? Polanski knows all too well about it. That’s the irony. His signature film. “Chinatown,” is the ultimate chronicle.

Here is Zenovich’s statement from Zurich, where she’s filming a sequel:

‘I am perplexed by the timing of David Wells’ statement to the press’that he lied in his interview with me for the documentary “Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired.”’Since June of 2008, the film has been quite visible on’U.S. television via HBO, in theaters and on DVD, so it is odd that David Wells’has not brought this issue to my attention before.

‘For the record, on the day I filmed Mr. Wells at the Malibu’Courthouse, February 11, 2005, he gave me a one-hour interview. He signed a’release like all my other interviewees, giving me permission to use his’interview in the documentary worldwide.’ At no time did I tell him that the film’would not air in the United States.

‘Mr. Wells was always friendly and open with me.’ At no point in the’four years since our interview has he ever raised any issues about its content.’In fact, in a July 2008 story in The New York Times, Mr. Wells corroborated the’account of events that he gave in my film.

‘I am astonished that he has now changed his story.’ It is a sad day’for documentary filmmakers when something like this happens.’