Amanda Knox: Murder on Trial in Italy (2011)

Based on the events surrounding the murder of British student Meredith Kercher.

Director:

Robert Dornhelm

Writer:

Wendy Battles

Stars:

Hayden Panettiere, Marcia Gay Harden, Vincent Riotta

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Hayden Panettiere	...	Amanda Knox
Marcia Gay Harden	...	Edda Mellas
Vincent Riotta	...	Guiliano Mignini
Paolo Romio	...	Raffaele Sollecito
Amanda Fernando Stevens	...	Meredith Kercher
Heather Cave	...	Deanna Knox
Djibril Kébé	...	Rudy Guede
Timothy Martin	...	Patrick Lumbana
Clive Walton	...	Curt Knox
Shobu Kapoor	...	Arlene Kercher (as Shoboo Kapoor)
Mimosa Campironi	...	Filomena Romanelli
Simonetta Solder	...	Detective Navarra
Fausto Maria Sciarappa	...	Detective Alicastro
Valentina Carnelutti	...	Dr. Patrizia Stefanoni
Francesco De Vito	...	Ispettore Battistelli

Storyline

Update: On Oct. 3, 2011, Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito were acquitted of murder on appeal in Italy. DNA experts determined the DNA on the so-called murder weapon was actually from bread crumbs (as in victim Meredith Kercher handling the bread and some crumbs ending up on the knife). Knox's conviction for slandering Diya Lumumba was upheld, though evidence came out that Knox had implicated the bar owner after 50 hours of interrogation without a lawyer present. As of Oct. 3, 2011, Knox's parents still face trial for slander for accusing Italian police of brutality and intimidation.

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Plot Keywords:

luminol | criminal justice | illegal drugs | american abroad | college student | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Certificate:

TV-14

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Release Date:

21 February 2011 (USA)

Also Known As:

Beyond the Headlines: The Amanda Knox Story

Filming Locations:

Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Craig Anderson Productions, Pilgrim Films & Television, Project X Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The real events took place in Perugia, but filming locations were mostly in and around Rome.

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Quotes

Rudy Guede: [singining] Meredeth's friend... Meredith's friend... Wanna get high?
Amanda Knox: Yes!
Rudy Guede: [singing] Wanna get high?
Amanda Knox: Yes!

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Connections

Features Larry King Live (1985)

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Soundtracks

A Little More Love
Performed by Taxi Doll

User Reviews

Amanda Knox: Murder On Trial In Italy

The murder of Meredith Kercher is already one of the crimes of the century, and will probably remain so for all time because only four people know what happened that fateful night in Perugia: three of them are proved liars, and the fourth must be forever silent.

Like the murder of Mary Phagan and the murder of Beryl Evans and her daughter Geraldine, there are other suspects. At the time, Evans was the only real suspect for the double murder, while the conviction of Leo Frank was based heavily on the testimony of a man who admitted being a party to the crime. Likewise the presence of Rudy Guede at the crime scene in Perugia cannot be ruled out, but does the murder require the presence of any other individual? This film argues compellingly that it does. Since its release there have been further legal developments which will continue for at least the next two years, and what then?

"...Murder On Trial In Italy" is very well researched, and Hayden Panettiere plays the enigmatic Knox to a tee. It is clear from the opening scene that she and her Harry Potter lookalike boyfriend have something to hide. There are no concessions here to the extraordinarily effective public relations campaign conducted by the Knox family, and whatever mistakes the Italian police may have made, the exhaustive forensic and legal analysis made all the way up to to Italy's highest criminal court more than compensates for it.

The film-makers have used a little poetic licence, and may not have solved the mystery entirely, but it is doubtful if anyone else will come closer anytime soon.