Workers at Film Forum in New York City are calling out the theater’s programmers for the ongoing theatrical run of “An Officer and a Spy,” Roman Polanski‘s 2019 film that is finally screening in the U.S. after the film and the director had been widely commercially rejected due to the sexual assault charge (to which he pleaded guilty) that led the Oscar-winning director to flee the United States decades ago.
Back in June, Film Forum quietly announced the film would be screening from August 8 until August 28. It would be the film’s first U.S. screenings despite it winning the Grand Jury Prize from Venice in 2019. On Monday however, Film Forum’s union, Local 2110 UAW, issued a lengthy statement on X saying they were “disturbed and disappointed” by the programming choice. The statement believes the programming note listed on the theater’s website “fails to accurately address the severity” of the accusations against Polanski.
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“This endorsement of Polanski’s allegorical project makes Film Forum complicit in the cultural amnesia that normalizes abuse and keeps survivors of sexual violence from being taken seriously,” the statement reads. “As workers and as film lovers, we count on the discernment of our premieres programmers to introduce work that not only reflects cultural significance, but upholds ethical responsibility.”
Film Forum’s programming note reads that, “In presenting this work, Film Forum does not condone Polanski’s crime. We respect our audience’s diverging opinions, and we acknowledge the complicated debate surrounding the presentation of work by artists with controversial or problematic histories. We also feel that this film is a well-crafted, dramatic depiction of the Dreyfus Affair — a landmark case of institutional corruption, antisemitism, and resistance to both, and a timely reminder of the perils of being a whistleblower. It is thus an important contribution to cinema’s crucial role in historical storytelling. We have programmed the film in keeping with our commitment to presenting compelling world cinema to NYC audiences.”
A rep for Film Forum did not respond to IndieWire’s request for comment.
“An Officer and a Spy” stars Louis Garrel as French army Captain Alfred Dreyfus, who in 19th Century France was banished to Devil’s Island after being found guilty of treason and accused of spreading military secrets to Germany. But it was later found that Dreyfus was convicted because of his Jewish faith, and Jean Dujardin plays the French head of counter-espionage, Georges Picquart, who helped to prove Dreyfus’ innocence.
In press notes at the time of the film’s Venice premiere, Polanski said he related to the material and found parallels to his own career. “I can see the same determination to deny the facts and condemn me for things I have not done,” Polanski wrote. “My work is not therapy. However, I must admit that I am familiar with many of the workings of the apparatus of persecution shown in the film, and that has clearly inspired me.”
The union alluded to this statement and said screening it now sets a “dangerous precedent.”
“This decision undermines the core values of our institution and, more urgently, betrays the trust between Film Forum’s staff and its programmers, and between Film Forum and the film-loving community it serves,” it reads. “The workers of Film Forum, demand accountability. We call on Film Forum to ensure that no future premieres programming decision will ever again prioritize the work of sexual predators. We must take a an unequivocal stance against sexual & sexist violence in the film industry.”
“An Officer and a Spy” was nominated for four European Film Awards and 12 Césars, but the last Polanski film to receive U.S. distribution was 2017’s “Based on a True Story.” The filmmaker last directed 2023’s “The Palace,” which also premiered at Venice.
