The Girl

A Life Lived in the Shadow of Roman Polanski

By: Samantha Geimer

Narrated by: Samantha Geimer

SOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE

In this searing and surprising memoir, Samantha Geimer, "the girl" at the center of the infamous Roman Polanski sexual assault case, breaks a virtual thirty-five-year silence to tell her story and reflect on the events of that day and their lifelong repercussions.

In this searing and surprising memoir, Samantha Geimer, “the girl” at the center of the infamous Roman Polanski sexual assault case, breaks a virtual thirty-five-year silence to tell her story and reflect on the events of that day and their lifelong repercussions.

March 1977, Southern California. Roman Polanski drives a rented Mercedes along Mulholland Drive to Jack Nicholson’s house. Sitting next to him is an aspiring actress, Samantha Geimer, recently arrived from York, Pennsylvania. She is thirteen years old.

The undisputed facts of what happened in the following hours appear in the court record: Polanski spent hours taking pictures of Samantha—on a deck overlooking the Hollywood Hills, on a kitchen counter, topless in a Jacuzzi. Wine and Quaaludes were consumed, balance and innocence were lost, and a young girl’s life was altered forever—eternally cast as a background player in her own story.

For months on end, the Polanski case dominated the media in the United States and abroad. But even with the extensive coverage, much about that day—and the girl at the center of it all—remains a mystery. Just about everyone had an opinion about the renowned director and the girl he was accused of drugging and raping. Who was the predator? Who was the prey? Was the girl an innocent victim or a cunning Lolita artfully directed by her ambitious stage mother? How could the criminal justice system have failed all the parties concerned in such a spectacular fashion? Once Polanski fled the country, what became of Samantha, the young girl forever associated with one of Hollywood’s most notorious episodes? Samantha, as much as Polanski, has been a fugitive since the events of that night more than thirty years ago.

Taking us far beyond the headlines, The Girl reveals a thirteen-year-old who was simultaneously wise beyond her years and yet terribly vulnerable. By telling her story in full for the first time, Samantha reclaims her identity, and indelibly proves that it is possible to move forward from victim to survivor, from confusion to certainty, from shame to strength.

Honest and fascinating

I listen to audiobooks constantly when working and this is the first one I've left a review for. Amazingly honest like nothing else I've ever read or listened to before. I love who this women is a human being and I hope now she is finally being left alone to enjoy the simple life with her family.

Victim's point of view

Repetition of details-- but I get it, not everyone reads books the same nor do they recall events the same either. The audio book has no glitches other than the chapters being off by one. It is a good book with insight.

New Perspective

I have followed this case for years and was always surprised that the victim seemed uninterested in continuing to prosecute Polanski - and in this book she finally gets the chance to explain why and add her own voice to this discussion. The book is very well written and her narration is very professional.

Who Knew?

I thought this was well written and informative. The tragedy behind Mr. Polanski is unbelievable and so heartbreaking. I applaud this young lady for NOT being a victim!