The Staircase

I watched the Peterson trial on Court TV in 2003, heard all the witnesses, and was convinced of Peterson's guilt. I rented this DVD the other day and watched all 6 hours compulsively. The inside look at Peterson, his defense team, and their strategy sessions was fascinating. But one huge problem: the filmmaker was so entranced by the defense case that he left out majorly important evidentiary facts. As another reviewer on this site indicated, the filmmaker left out the very evidence that the jury used to convict Peterson. Broken wineglass, his bloody footprint on her back, red neurons in her brain (indicating she'd been bleeding to death and unconscious for over 2 hours), ruptured hyaline cartilage in her throat (characteristic of attempted strangulation; not possible from a fall), blood spatter on the inner, wrong-side-out leg of his shorts, evidence that he tried to clean up the scene, and much more. Too bad for Peterson that there were 3 nurses and one clinical researcher on the jury. They weren't fooled by Henry Lee's assertion that 'there was too much blood for a beating'! Such an absurd statement.
Interestingly, in one of the DVD's 'extra' features, the filmmaker complains about how unfair the American justice system is! Well, I'm complaining about how unfair this film is! I give it 4 stars because it was well done and I couldn't stop watching. But don't be taken in by this piece of propaganda. The real evidence against Peterson was overwhelming.

One word describes the perception I left this film with: injustice.

Having seen the film, AND doing additional research through web archives, etc, I was absolutely stunned (talking at the television level of stunned) at the ending to this tragic American Tale.

See it... Digest it... You decide. Whatever your conclusion, it's still an incredibly dramatic, moving, and troubling story.

This documentary was the first I'd heard in any depth of the Michael Peterson murder case, and the apparently unjust verdict (according to what one is led to believe in the film) led me to dig deeper into the case, which I'd suggest every viewer do before casting lots with these filmmakers and their pals, Peterson's defense team. It's a very interesting case, which makes for a very interesting film. Unfortunately, the film omits a good deal of the evidence against Peterson, including most of what jurors relied on to convict him. No kidding. Look it up. Whether the French film crew were simply inclined to favor a guy who likes wine and swings both ways, or seriously weighed all the evidence and came to believe Peterson was innocent, they've produced a movie told essentailly from one point of view, with the occasional excursion into enemy territory only included to drive home stereotypes about the other side -- i.e., that the DA's team are Southern homophobes and family members who oppose Peterson emotional wrecks. Still, when all was said and done, the jury found the guy guilty beyond a reasonable doubt for reasons the film chooses to delete. Then, insult to injury, they imply the jury came to its decision for no good reason at all. Filmmaking most foul.

I originally saw this documentary on The Sundance Channel when it first aired earlier this year. (2005) I have been waiting for the DVD to come out so I could purchase it. This is one of the most exciting, riviting, and extraordinary documentaries I have seen in my 63 years. Jacqueline Pooks music is haunting and mesmerizing. Every character in the Michael Peterson trial is fleshed out and sympathetic in their own way. Even Michael Peterson, who seems lost from the first frame. A man who lives in his own world or appears to. The two daughters who stood by him (one did not) are either in profound denial of their father's life or lives, or he is innocent, as they so strongly believe. The murder case from day one to the end of the trial and verdict are covered meticulously. This French film team did a splendiferous job. It is on The Sundance Channel again this week and, once again, I am watching it as if I have never seen it before. I have ordered the DVD and cannot wait for it to arrive so I can view it whenever I like. I plan to have a dinner party soon so that all of my friends who have not seen it can watch it with me. This film is all they have heard me talk about all year. So glad it's finally out! Please do yourself a favor and buy it. You will not regret it.