It has contributed articles to tabloids around the world. With the documentary Amanda Knox, Netflix offers us a new dive into the case of the bloody murder of Meredith Kercher, raped and murdered in her home in 2007. Long accused before being definitively cleared, Amanda Knox, his roommate, brings an unprecedented testimony in person. A disturbing documentary at times but not so different from others on the same subject.
An exciting news item
This news item fascinated as much as it outraged. In November 2007, a young English student Meredith Kercher was found murdered in her apartment in the city of Perugia, Italy. She was also raped by her killer. Quickly, suspicions turn to Amanda Knox, a young American student, and her companion Raffaele Sollecito. This is the beginning of an exciting police investigation and a long judicial procedure that will result in a final acquittal of the two accused and the recognition of the guilt of Rudy Guede, multi-recidivist burglar, who is the only one to have been officially recognized for this crime while the investigators expected a group of 3 people at the beginning.
The documentary takes up the case from the point of view of several key protagonists. From the accused couple to lawyers to journalists. Everyone has their say and their own vision of this story. It is a chronological account ranging from Amanda Knox's arrival in Italy to her final release in 2015 by the Italian Supreme Court. The documentary not only collects testimonies but also stages some sequences of life, played by the witnesses. A process that can intrigue and confusing at first. Public opinion has not fully decided on the case of Amanda Knox. She is often portrayed as the real murderer like OJ Simpson who has failed to dispel the suspicions that still weigh on him.
A documentary stingy in surprises
There are many documentaries about this murder and Amanda Knox's journey. A film about Amanda Knox, wearing the features of actress Hayden Panettiere, was even made. The main argument of this documentary is the presence in the flesh of the main accused. That makes all the difference. His own testimony brings a lot to this Netflix Original and makes it a unique work.
The documentary does not fully return to the crime and does not try to exonerate or sink the American. It also sheds interesting light on the crazy media treatment of this case. The press has evoked a lot of theories about Amanda's personality and her supposed perversity. Whether true or false, they had a direct impact on the investigation.
But that's about it. The documentary is not really revolutionary in its treatment. Despite the quality of the testimonies and archives presented, the viewer well acquainted with this case will not learn much more. The report does not try to open new avenues or focus on disturbing elements by bringing a new perspective. It is similar in several respects to other works that deal with the same subject. However, his rather polished realization alternating interesting interviews and superb shots of Italian landscapes is clearly appreciable.
Amanda Knox is a synthetic documentary of a certain quality but which does not necessarily bring something new. It has, nevertheless, a prominent place in the ranking of documentaries talking about this subject. Available since September 2016 on Netflix.
