A Jury of Her Peers (1980) User Reviews

Its ok.

[kranders · 6/10 · 26 December 1999]

Ok. We watched this in English class, and the most exciting part was when we realized that one woman, Mrs. Hale, was the grandma from Happy Gilmore. So that was fun. But for a short film, it was very well portrayed from Susan Glaspell's short story, which we also read.

Extremely Powerful Short Film

[films42 · 10/10 · 17 May 2003]

This is an extremely powerful, Oscar-nominated, short film (30 minutes long) which works beautifully on a variety of levels. On the surface, it tells a fairly simple story about rural life at the start of the 20th century, but look deeper & it becomes a metaphor about the difference between male & female communication styles. At its deepest level, intended by both the author of the short story & the filmmaker, it becomes a feminist statement about the importance of including women as full participants in public life (in the arts as well as in politics).

Note the title: the film is set in a world in which women can not participate on juries, they can't even vote (yet). So the title itself is a clue to the multiple layers intended.

The filmmaker does an excellent job of visualizing the story but it does require patience -- you have to look carefully at the clues set before you in order to draw your own conclusions. This film will not simply tell you what to think about right & wrong.

Excellent for use in a book club or film club where you can watch together & then discuss. Only the stone-hearted will be ready to leave the room when the credits roll.

Missing Info! but faithful to the Glaspell's play!

[Sylviastel · 9/10 · 11 February 2009]

It should be Trifles which is faithful to the Susan Glaspell one act play of the same name. It would have been nice to have the cast and crew names to note and compliment or criticize them there but I don't know their names or I would do the deed. Anyway, the short film is faithful to the one act play and it's superbly done. Susan Glaspell would be proud to see this film. The actresses do an admirable job in portraying the local townswomen and the actors do an adequate job in probing the case against an unhappy married woman who kills her husband but why. I won't spoil it. You just have to watch if possible. I was lucky because my college professor, Ellen Gruber Garvey, worked on the film with the director in the film crew but even she's not listed nor is the cast and crew which is a terrible shame because they deserve to be recognized.

The stronger sex; sorry boys

[smallfilms · 10/10 · 1 March 2009]

A wonderfully realized film, elegant and economical. The script was lean and informed by the era, with sudden lightning strokes of simple, powerful dialog. The director takes the two female leads from assumptions to a greater conviction, in non-judicial sense. Like the directing, the editing was seamless and yet telling, turning a subtle rock slide into an sudden avalanche. This reviewer wants to haul out the adjectives and praise "Jury," but that just won't do for a gem. This is a film about details and strength, the unseen distaff world. An alternative title might have been "Two Angry Women," Yep, it's "12 Angry Men" without the thunder.