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The Staircase

The Staircase

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The Staircase

The Staircase

The Staircase

2004

Documentary

TV Mini-Series

10h 29m

Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker, Jean-Xavier de Lestrade, presents a gripping courtroom thriller... (imdb)

Directed by:

Jean-Xavier de Lestrade

Writer:

Jean-Xavier de Lestrade

Starring:

Michael Peterson

Genre:

AKAs:

Death on the Staircase, Soupçons

Country:

Language:

Suggest an edit

The Staircase

2004

Documentary

TV Mini-Series

10h 29m

Your probable score

Ratings & Reviews Seasons Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

Average Percentile: 76.88%

Ratings & Reviews Seasons Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

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Average Percentile: 76.88%

05 Jun 2010

Such an interesting and gripping documentary about a murder case that I almost find it hard to believe that all this actually happened. The insight we get into it all (at least, from one point of view) is unlike any other documentary I've seen about these kinds of cases.

05 Jun 2010

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16 Sep 2012

It doesn't matter whether he did it or not because this film is less about getting to "the truth of the matter" and more about how the legal system operates in accordance with game theory principles, where perspective is equivalent to truth, and where the outcome of man's life is decided amidst an emotionally draining war of prejudices and feelings. The film is all the more powerful because of how fully and empathetically it captures each of these perspectives, especially in the children.

16 Sep 2012

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13 Aug 2007

Taken as an effort to show the prosecution has an unfair advantage in the American criminal justice system, this was a poor case to choose. Taken as a penetrating inside look at how both prosecution and defence are involved in a strange game of chess with bizarre rules and where money is king, it is a very good case to choose. Taken as an intimate document of a real-life courtroom drama, it is excellent. Cf.: https://www.academia.edu/12687013/From_Philosophical_Cinema_to_Cinematic_Politics_2007_

13 Aug 2007

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26 Jul 2018

One of the most infuriating, unbelievable documentaries I've ever seen. Absolutely astounding how things turn out. It's quite one sided, but in the end, it's not really about Michael Peterson being innocent or guilty. It's about how crazy the court system can be in America. Many curse words and heated comments were made by me and the person who was watching this with me, during and after the episodes. Fuck.

26 Jul 2018

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16 Feb 2013

Okay so I'll admit I watched this whole thing under the impression it was just a perfectly-observed, brilliantly-acted docu-drama... and finding out it's all real makes it even better. The credit can be given to the direction and editing, unveiling the story like a master crafted crime novel and keeping the did he/didn't he question balanced perfectly throughout. You're screaming for more, but this covers about as much as eight punchy 45-minute episodes allow. Amazing stuff.

16 Feb 2013

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20 Aug 2011

This would be a perfect documentary if it was honest in its presentation of the facts. Unfortunately, Lestrade omits many important facts as he shoehorns reality into his thesis. Biased presentation aside, it is one of the most complete depictions of a murder trial - from the perspective of the accused and defense team - ever. Its 6 hour running length is justified; it is the cinematic equivalent of a page turner. Warning: you may feel manipulated after learning more about the case.

20 Aug 2011

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09 Dec 2010

This is an absolutely superb documentary and what every courtroom drama strives to be. While it's slated in favour of the defendant, as the prosecution wouldn't let Lestrade film them I'm sure, it manages to present both sides of the case. In the end I really don't know whether or not it was a murder or a horrible accident however I do feel like there was reasonable doubt. How you may feel is certainly up in the air and that's why this is such a masterful documentary.

09 Dec 2010

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18 Oct 2009

Although heavily slanted toward the defense's side, this courtroom documentary does an excellent job of showing the details of what goes into a murder trial. The insight into the very non-scientific process of criminal forensics is especially fascinating.

18 Oct 2009

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15 Mar 2007

Real-life courtroom drama at it's most gripping.

15 Mar 2007

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21 Jul 2018

I'll concede it's riveting, and technically well-made. But this is the most one-sided, biased "documentary" I've ever seen. When you research about the things left out of the series (his massive credit card debt, Kathleen's $1.4 mil insurance policy, his love affair with the series' editor), you will realize that you've been lied to. Michael Peterson is a sociopath, and regardless of how this shameless show tried to present him, obviously a murderer.

21 Jul 2018

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03 Jul 2018

A really nice watch with Petersen being incredibly hard to read at times and some fairly shocking facts bouncing all over the place.

03 Jul 2018

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30 Jun 2018

Reminded me of 'Capturing the Friedmans' in several ways, and if you like this, you should definitely watch that film. And the other way around, of course. What makes both so great is that we get access to so much of the defendants' private lives.

30 Jun 2018

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18 Nov 2012

Regardless of the technical ability and production values, I expect documentaries to present the facts as they best know them. This film is so one sided I actually felt lied to after learning more about the case.

18 Nov 2012

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28 Dec 2010

Simply phenomenal.

28 Dec 2010

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10 Jun 2025

Wonderful, although some parts were unnecessary. If you start watching it but consider giving up because it gets too long, do not hesitate to skip quickly through and past the slightly boring meetings that take place in I think it was 4,5,6 episodes, the important thing is to see what happens in court in order to follow the series.

10 Jun 2025

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28 Oct 2024

Intriguing, sad. After 10 hours, and it's become part of your life for a few days, there's suddenly a two minute extra about owls? WTF

28 Oct 2024

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29 Apr 2024

A gripping story, but so obviously biased towards Petersons innocence that it is hard to watch at points

29 Apr 2024

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28 Dec 2022

Gripping and intriguing. I was amazed not only by the editing (the editor must have gone blind at the end) and sound production but also by how the crew could shoot very intimate moments without making the people feel their presence. I shouldn't mention the content, laying bare all the peculiar characteristics of the US judicial system, where people become unimportant when prosecutors, experts, and lawyers fight. And the most you could get from that is "not guilty", not "innocent".

28 Dec 2022

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24 Jul 2022

The series is incredibly long, to the point where it feels as though we're spending too much time watching derivative or unnecessary footage that should have been cut. That being said, there is so much evidence going in both directions with this question of did he or didn't he push his wife to her death, that you kind of need to see him and the family in every way to make your decision. Thank God I wasn't on that jury cause I genuinely don't know which way I'd lean.

24 Jul 2022

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29 Nov 2021

A solid documentary series which follows the defendant, his defense team, and his family in the original run leading up to the verdict and 3 follow up episodes. It suffers from being so insanely one sided it makes Capturing the Friedmans or Making a Murderer look objective. They leave out so much key information it'll make you angry when you look into the case. Also one of the producers as it turns out was in a long term relationship with M.P.

29 Nov 2021

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11 May 2020

I was the only person who didn't find anything funny

11 May 2020

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24 Nov 2019

Interesting and almost comical how things played out across the years (same judge!). Unfortunately extremely biased towards Michael Peterson. The prosecution barely gets to speak and when they're on screen, they're villains (e.g. transporting the body). The biggest issue is that the documentary does not cover certain elements until late. We never hear about the blood inside the shorts or the strangulation until right near the end. Other facts are omitted too.

24 Nov 2019

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22 Nov 2019

Excellent.

22 Nov 2019

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23 Dec 2018

A very good documentary that does tend to stretch things out a lot more than they needed to be.

23 Dec 2018

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10 Jul 2018

Riveting. Meticulous. Addicting. The definitive documentary series.

10 Jul 2018

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23 Jun 2018

Fantastic documentary filmmaking. In my limited experience with docu-mini-series this is 2nd in line behind The Jinx

23 Jun 2018

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30 Jan 2016

In a time when Making a Murderer is attracting a lot of attention (and rightfully so), this documentary tv mini-series must be the next in line for all that are intrigued by the apparent holes in the American justice system. It is even more thorough, and even though it's biased, it's not as one-sided as MaM. It does, though, share some of the gruesome and gigantic lapses in the system.

30 Jan 2016

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12 Jun 2015

Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn't.

12 Jun 2015

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30 Jan 2014

Misleading title! There isn't a single soup can in the whole movie. I thought this was going to be about Andy Warhol.

30 Jan 2014

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Something missing? Seasons are generated automatically, when individual episodes are added to the database. If a season is missing, please consider submitting an episode from it, and the season will be created!

Cast & Info

Directed by:

Jean-Xavier de Lestrade

Writer:

Jean-Xavier de Lestrade

Starring:

Michael Peterson

Genre:

AKAs:

Death on the Staircase, Soupçons

Country:

Language:

Suggest an edit

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