Zoë Kravitz Knows It’s ‘Controversial’ to Admire Roman Polanski’s Work, but Can Accept that ‘Somebody Bad Was Involved in Something Good’
Samantha Bergeson
Zoë Kravitz is speaking out on the ongoing debate over whether someone can be a fan of a controversial artist’s work but not condone their actions.
Amid cancel culture and the #MeToo movement with allegations against actors and auteurs alike coming to light, “Blink Twice” writer/director Kravitz told Esquire that she does not shy away from still appreciating would-be canceled directors’ films. Kravitz specifically cited her admiration for Roman Polanski‘s filmmaking. He directed two of her favorite films, “Rosemary’s Baby” and “The Tenant.”
Polanski left the U.S. in 1978 after pleading guilty to the statutory rape of a 13-year-old girl who has since defended the director. Polanski has denied the sexual misconduct claims from five other women. Polanski is still making films, with his feature “The Palace” debuting at Venice 2023.
“It’s OK that somebody bad was involved in something good,” Kravitz told Esquire about separating the art from the artist. “What are we supposed to do, get rid of America?”
Kravitz added that while it might be considered “controversial” to some people to still love Polanski’s films, his personal life does not impact her fandom.
Other directors Kravitz listed as inspirations include Quentin Tarantino, Martin Scorsese, Paul Thomas Anderson, Penny Marshall, David Fincher, and the Coen brothers.
Kravitz’s own directorial debut “Blink Twice” also embraced controversy with the original buzzy title “Pussy Island.”
“I wrote this insane fever dream of a novella,” Kravitz said of creating the story. As for the title change, at the urging of studio Amazon MGM, she added, “”Am I upset that there is a show called ‘Dicks: The Musical’? Kind of. […] What’s interesting is that they tested the title and the people who were most offended were women.”
She previously told Entertainment Weekly that she was trying to “reclaim” the word “pussy” with the script. However, test audiences didn’t see it that way.
“Interestingly enough, after researching it, women were offended by the word, and women seeing the title were saying, ‘I don’t want to see that movie,’ which is part of the reason I wanted to try and use the word, which is trying to reclaim the word, and not make it something that we’re so uncomfortable using,” Kravitz said. “But we’re not there yet. And I think that’s something I have the responsibility as a filmmaker to listen to. I care about people seeing the film, and I care about how it makes people feel.”
