This bizarre case is getting so little coverage in North America—shame. Morally-suspect Polish/French director Roman Polanski (The Pianist—great film), is getting a little Albert Camus action these days, as a British libel case focuses on whether or not he was duly upset by the murder of his wife Sharon Tate, almost 40 years ago.

So far, former movie star and famous spouse Mia Farrow has said, yes, Roman was as upset as one would expect after a murder (I’m paraphrasing), while Harper’s Editor Lewis Lapham has said no, not really, in fact he was trying to pick up a gorgeous model at Elaine’s just weeks after Tate’s death.

All this as a result of a story that appeared in Vanity Fair, documenting the evening in question at New York’s famous Elaine’s restaurant. From the sounds of things, everyone was there, and Woody Allen was playing the clarinet in the corner.

The obvious question—who cares if Roman Polanski cried enough for his dead wife?

Read L’Etranger, by Camus. Report back.

Oh, and my favorite bit from Farrow:

Told that Polanski had admitted resuming casual sex within four weeks of his wife’s murder, Farrow said: “I feel there’s a big distinction – for men maybe – between relationships and having sex. I don’t see that as disrespect of Sharon … I would swear that on a stack of Bibles.”

Soooo, if ever I wind up defending my honour in court, someone please call Mia Farrow for me.