Polanski retrospective goes ahead in France under the shadow of feminist protests

France’s famed film institute La Cinematheque Francaise said it will go ahead with a retrospective of works by director Roman Polanski despite opposition by feminist groups.

La Cinematheque said on Wednesday that calls to cancel the Polanski screenings – attended by the director – only began “in the last few days” as the sexual harassment accusations against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein gained force. Weinstein denies the allegations.

The statement said it would not change the programme that begins on Monday.

The institute said its role was not to moralise in regard to the Polish-born director who in the 1970s pleaded guilty to having sex in the US with a 13-year-old girl whom he plied with champagne and Quaaludes.

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Since Polanski fled the US, he has mostly lived in Paris.