Starring: n/a Directed By: Jean-Xavier de Lestrade Average Rating: Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated) Binding: DVD Format: Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, NTSC Label: NEW VIDEO GROUP Number of Items: 2 Region Code: 1 Release Date: August 30, 2005 Running Time: 384 minutes Theatrical Release Date: 2004-06
Description: Directed by Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Jean-Xavier de Lestrade (Murder on a Sunday Morning), THE STAIRCASE is like the most suspenseful of page-turners, adding "layers of complexity until one is entirely hooked by its ambiguities and twists and turns." (Chicago Tribune) One of the most highly acclaimed documentaries in recent years, this shocking, real-life thriller follows the high-profile murder trial of North Carolina author Michael Peterson, who was arraigned in 2001 for the murder of his wife after her body is discovered lying in a pool of blood on the stairway of the couple's upscale Durham home. Did Kathleen Peterson fall down the stairs, or was it cold-blooded murder? As the mystery unravels, de Lestrade's cameras are granted unusual access to Peterson's lawyers, home, and immediate family, resulting in a gripping, inside look at a case so shocking, it is sure to leave you gasping for breath.
Amazon.com: It's Law & Order come to life as the Sundance Channel's consistently absorbing, often riveting The Staircase chronicles a sensational North Carolina murder case from the crime to the verdict. When Kathleen Peterson was found dead in her Durham, NC mansion in December '01, her husband, novelist Michael Peterson, claimed she had fallen down a narrow staircase. The authorities disagreed, and Peterson was charged with first degree murder. Thereafter, director Jean-Xavier de Lestrade and his crew were given almost unrestricted access to the defendant (who remained free on bail) and his legal team, as well as to the district attorney and the prosecution crew, albeit to a lesser extent. There are countless meetings to map out defense strategy, dozens of interviews (including many with Peterson himself; he's not an especially sympathetic character), scenes of pre-trial home life, excerpts from Court TV coverage, and so on. The filmmakers follow the prosecution investigators to Texas, where we see a body exhumed; there's even a trip to Germany to look into a previous death in which Peterson may or may not have been involved.
The result is both exhaustive and exhausting; indeed, it's not until the end of the fourth of the series' eight episodes (each is about 45 minutes long) that the actual trial begins. By then, various revelations about Peterson, ranging from surprising to unsavory to downright sordid, have proved once again that truth really is stranger than fiction. In fact, while the four-month trial is interesting, it doesn't reveal much that we don't already know. Unlike most so-called "reality" programming, The Staircase is the genuine article. That means that it lacks the constant throb of big, dramatic scenes provided by your average TV cop-courtroom show, especially as the series is well over six hours long. Still, although one might easily skip to Episode 8 to learn the outcome, there's more than enough suspense to justify watching every minute of it, and regardless of one's expectations, the announcement of the verdict is a jolting moment. Only two key elements remain unexplained: What went on in the jury room during deliberations? And did Peterson do it, or not? Only he knows, and he ain't talkin'. --Sam Graham
disappointing Somewhat disappointing, after reading all the rave reviews on this one. Spending close to six hours watching this, made me wanting to know more about the prosecutors' point of view. It also left me a bit in the blue as to whether this guy really is innocent or not. For a documentary presented as being so close to the drama, after all it wasn't that close, really. After the third episode it all becomes very repetitive. But I guess, that's the justice system for you ; )
Incredibly entertaining yet... A week ago I would have given this series five stars. It once was my favorite doc series, however after having watched it for a second time, I was stillbaffled and just couldn't make sense of the verdict. I figured that there MUST be material, issues and evidence of many sorts missing that director Lestrade decided not to get into.
And boy, was there!! After having glimpsed at partial court transcripts and crucial evidence that is not ever mentioned in the series - as Lestrade decided to let much of it end up on the cutting room floor - I'm pretty sure that I have my answer as to Michael Peterson's guilt.
The Staircase gives its' viewers the impression that Peterson has been solely incriminated based on his bi-sexuality and lifestyle, by the prosecution. Which in part he defenately has been a victim of, however the real important evidence the director - who has given us a much more honest Academy Award winning doc in the past - decided to leave out to make for a more exciting and outrageous story.
Bummer.
Jury justice is not always a guarantee of fair justice This film about a murder case, about the trial after it, is one of these American films, in fact a TV mini-series, on a real case that does not go in the normal direction, the direction of what we all should think not truth is but justice should be. There is such an enormous amount of doubt about the case, about the guilt and even about the murder itself that it is unbelievable that a unanimous verdict of guilt came out of the jury pool. Such cases are examples for us to question the system of justice we set up over the last four centuries. And the judge decided to impose life imprisonment but for first degree murder it could have been the death penalty. It is such cases that prove that jury justice is maybe good in many cases but there are a few cases where it is the worst possible system, and that is why the death penalty should be gotten rid of, and that's why we should make sure the defendants, now sentenced culprits, have access to all possibilities and opportunities to appeal the decision and to have the best councilors available. Jury justice in a world that is so deeply cut in small antagonistic pieces does not work in any sensitive delicate case because of any kind of un-namable bias having to do with race, wealth, age, sex, sexual orientation, and any other parameter you may think of. This case should be compared to other cases where the reverse decision was reached, but the model of such a case of failed justice was clearly written in a book and set to the screen a long time ago: "To Kill a Mocking Bird". Miscarriage of justice due to some kind of totally unmentionable prejudice. I am not sure though that the conclusion of "Romeo and Juliet" is the proper one here: "They are all Punished", because in Romeo and Juliet's case there was no trial, and especially no jury trial.
Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University Paris Dauphine, University Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne & University Versailles Saint Quentin en Yvelines
Great series! I thought this was a great series, albeit a little one sided in Michael Peterson's favor, based on the Michael Peterson case. If you ever want to see the inner workings of a homicide trial on the defendant's side watch this!
Stunning Documentary Something about how this was filmed makes this one of the most compelling and thrilling documentaries I've ever watched. I found myself obsessed with getting to the next episode; like a great book. It follows what was an incredible story and trial.
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