The news story of Amanda Knox and the suspicion that she was responsible for the murder of her roommate, Meredith Kercher, captured the world for months, as Knox was arrested and tried in an Italian court for Kercher’s death. A new production from Netflix seeks to recapture that fascination with the original case in a documentary, simply titled Amanda Knox. But unlike most murder trial documentaries, this one isn’t just a dry reiteration of the facts surrounding the case. Netflix’s Amanda Knox puts the viewers on the jury with two different teasers.
Amanda Knox Teasers Ask Do You “Believe Her” Or Do You “Suspect Her?”
In sharing the new teasers for Amanda Knox , Entertainment Weekly proves the Netflix documentary will be as ambiguous as a real trial, ultimately leaving the verdict up to the viewer. Each teaser proves its case in such a way as to convince the viewers as to the validity of the stance taken and, just like a true juror, audiences will have to determine the verdict individually.
As for the plot, Amanda Knox explores the explosive story of American student Amanda Knox studying abroad in Italy, where she found herself accused of murdering her roommate, Meredith Kercher. Ms. Knox was tried and convicted of the murder, spending years in prison, before a retrial in Italy’s highest court acquitted her of the crime. The Amanda Knox documentary is unique in that it offers “unprecedented access to key people involved and never-before-seen archival material,” which gives a deeper insight into the events leading up to Kercher’s death.
Amanda Knox also delivers new interviews with Knox, her ex-boyfriend and co-defendant Raffaele Sollecito, Italian prosecutor Giuliano Mignini, and Daily Mail reporter Nick Pisa.
Why Did Amanda Knox Choose To Talk To Filmmakers?
In recapping the events following Meredith Kercher’s murder, Hollywood Reporter reveals a long and complex journey through the Italian legal system in which Knox and her Italian boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, were convicted and acquitted more than once. It finally took a decision from the highest court in the Italian legal system to put the matter to rest, permanently acquitting the couple eight years after Kercher’s November 1, 2007 death.
In deciding to produce Amanda Knox for Netflix, filmmakers Rod Blackhurst and Brian McGinn decided there was more to the story, coming at the project with the feeling that public opinion had been formed more from the headlines and less from the actual facts of the case. McGinn faults click-bait journalism in delivering sensationalized accounts, instead of looking deeper at the human stories. In taking that position as documentary filmmakers, McGinn and Blackhurst say they were able to provide a voice to those who felt their stories hadn’t been accurately told in the original media frenzy. Now, the Amanda Knox filmmakers were providing a pulpit from which those involved could finally voice themselves.
“Our goal was to let Amanda, Mignini, Sollecito and Pisa drive the conversation and reveal things about themselves,” said McGinn.
“With that in mind, it was very different than the goal of an ABC news program with Diane Sawyer or a lot of the other public appearances Amanda had made where it was really considered a forum to discuss ‘Did you do it?’ or ‘Did you not?’. That was really never the way we came at the story.”
Amanda Knox ultimately makes the case for her innocence, but Knox herself suggests that there may still be doubt lingering with anyone willing to give the documentary a chance. Even those genuinely believing in Amanda’s innocence may come away from the film having had their faith in humanity shaken by the story.
“If I’m guilty, it means I am the ultimate figure to fear,” Ms. Knox says. “On the other hand, if I’m innocent, it means everyone’s vulnerable. And it’s everyone’s nightmare.”
Amanda Knox will premiere on Netflix on September 30.
[Image by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images]