The Staircase (French miniseries)

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For the 2022 American drama, see The Staircase (American miniseries). For other uses, see Staircase (disambiguation).
The Staircase
Poster for the 2018 Netflix release
FrenchSoupçons
GenreDocumentary film
Written byJean-Xavier de Lestrade
Directed byJean-Xavier de Lestrade
Starring
  • Michael Peterson
  • David Rudolf
  • Ron Guerette
  • Tom Maher
  • Bill Peterson
  • Freda Black
  • Jim Hardin
  • Arthur Holland
Country of originFrance
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes13
Production
Production locations
Running time44-55 minutes
Production companyMaha Productions
Original release
Network
Release
  • October 7, 2004 (2004-10-07) – October 28, 2004 (2004-10-28) (episodes 1–8)[1][2]
  • January 30, 2013 (2013-01-30) (episodes 9–10)
  • June 8, 2018 (2018-06-08) (episodes 11–13)

The Staircase (French: Soupçons, lit. ''Suspicions''; also known as Death on the Staircase) is a 2004 French-produced, English-language documentary television miniseries directed by Jean-Xavier de Lestrade about the trial of Michael Peterson, convicted of murdering his wife, Kathleen Peterson.

Following from de Lestrade's Oscar-winning Murder on a Sunday Morning, filming began soon after Peterson's indictment. Camera crews were given access to the accused's extended family, the defense attorneys, and the courtroom.[3]

An abbreviated version was broadcast as a special two-hour presentation of American news show Primetime Thursday on July 22, 2004.[4] The miniseries was completed in September 2004,[5] and premiered in October on Canal+,[6] from January 10–14, 2005, on BBC Four (as part of its Storyville documentary series),[7] and from April 4–25 on Sundance Channel.[8][9]

Lestrade returned to film Peterson and his family in 2012–2013, covering developments in the case that were released as a two-hour sequel. Three new episodes with further updates were later made for Netflix, and in 2018, the streaming channel added all 13 episodes to its catalog, making it available as one series.

Synopsis[edit]

In December 2001, war novelist Michael Peterson called emergency services to report that his wife Kathleen had fallen down a set of stairs in their Forest Hills mansion and died. The authorities disbelieved Peterson's story that Kathleen had fallen while drunk and concluded instead that he had bludgeoned her to death, most likely with a fireplace tool called a blow poke (a gift from Kathleen's sister, which appeared to be missing from the house). Peterson was soon charged with murder. The documentary series detailed the ensuing case from the point of view of Peterson and his legal-defense team, led by attorney David Rudolf.

During the trial, it was revealed that while the Petersons were living in Germany, his dear friend (his best friend's widow and the mother of his future adopted daughters) had died ostensibly from an intra-cerebral haemorrhage, followed by the body falling down stairs after collapsing, which resulted in head injuries similar to those sustained by Peterson's second wife. An investigation by German police and U.S. military authorities concluded that the death was accidental (a subsequent exhumation and autopsy disputed the claim of accidental death). The prosecution introduced this death into the trial as an incident that may have given Peterson the idea of how to fake the true cause of Kathleen's death. During the trial, Peterson's two adopted daughters supported their father's version of the death, while Kathleen's daughter from a first marriage, as well as Kathleen's two sisters, soon grew suspicious, and split from the family.

The prosecution argued that Kathleen discovered Michael's bisexuality and pursuit of sexual liaisons with men, leading to an argument that ended in Michael bludgeoning his wife to death.

Peterson claimed that his wife knew intuitively about his sexuality, frequently teased him indirectly about it, understood that was part of who he was, and would have been fine with his arranging to have sex with anonymous men. He claimed to have been outside, by the pool, when Kathleen fell down the stairs and injured herself. A defense team re-creation claimed that Peterson could not hear his wife's cries for help from such a distance.

The jury ultimately convicted Peterson, and he was sentenced to life in prison. However, the verdict was later overturned in 2011, when the judge ruled that one of the prosecution's main witnesses lied under oath. In 2017, while awaiting his new trial, Michael Peterson entered an Alford plea, in which he accepted a charge of voluntary manslaughter and was sentenced to time served, allowing him to end his time in prison and walk away a free man.[10][11]

Reception[edit]

Reviews of The Staircase are generally positive. It won a Peabody Award in 2005.[12] It also won an IDA award for the Limited Series category in 2005.[13]

Additional Episodes[edit]

In April 2012, it was announced that Lestrade was working on a two-hour follow-up film to The Staircase for French broadcaster Canal+,[14] after Michael Peterson was released from jail, pending a retrial. The sequel, subtitled "Last Chance," premiered at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam[15] in November 2012.[16] It aired on Canal+ on January 30, 2013,[17] and on BBC Four's Storyville on February 4.[18] Sundance Channel aired a shorter alternative cut, presenting "Last Chance" as two new episodes of the original miniseries, airing March 4 and March 11, 2013.[5][19]

On November 23, 2015, Lestrade announced a second follow-up film at the IDFA Forum.[20] Originally announced as Staircase III, the film documents the story of Peterson's final trial, set for early 2016. The film was commissioned by Canal+. Last Chance producer Matthieu Belghiti of What's Up Films was also attached.[21] It was later picked up by Netflix to be released as three new episodes of the miniseries, together with the previous 10 episodes, on June 8, 2018.[22] The first of the new episodes premiered on April 28, 2018, at the Tribeca Film Festival.[23]

All 13 episodes of the series were released on Netflix on June 8, 2018.[24]

Episodes[edit]

No. in
season		TitleLength (minutes)
1"Crime or Accident?"47:00
Following his wife's suspicious death, Michael Peterson speaks about his version of the events while lawyers and expert witnesses prepare for trial
2"Secrets and Lies"46:00
As Michael's hidden life comes out into the open, defense experts debate if it will have a significant impact on the coming trial.
3"A Striking Coincidence"46:00
The defense team is shaken when a suspicious event from the past comes to light. Later, the team visits Michael's first wife in Germany.
4"A Prosecution Trickery"44:00
As the trial looms and media attention heats up, an autopsy report's wording ruffles the feathers of the defense team.
5"A Weak Case"47:00
The prosecution presents its case while the defense strives to cast a reasonable doubt within the minds of the jury.
6"The Prosecution's Revenge"47:00
A witness brings surprising levity to the stand, the judge rules on an important matter, and Michael's alleged temper comes under scrutiny.
7"The Blow Poke Returns"50:00
Kathleen's sister pores over Michael's writings. Jurors visit the staircase at Michael's home. A vital piece of evidence reappears.
8"The Verdict"50:00
Is Michael Peterson guilty or not guilty? The jury delivers its verdict regarding the mysterious death of his wife, Kathleen.
9"Reopening the Case"55:00
Eight years later, the possibility that a key witness for the prosecution may have misled the jury could prompt the need for a new trial.
10"The Last Chance"52:00
After more experts testify about the questionable conclusions and claims of Duane Deaver, the judge rules on whether a new trial is necessary.
11"Looking for Closure"52:00
Following two and a half years of house arrest, Michael must decide whether to push for a plea or risk his freedom with a new trial.
12"Between Anger and Despair"46:00
Their faith in the justice system forever shaken, Michael and his family discuss what they can hope to achieve by continuing the fight.
13"Flawed Justice"46:00
Michael speaks to a reporter about the reasons behind his plea. Later, Kathleen's sister delivers a statement of defiance in court.

Legacy[edit]

The first season of the 2017 sitcom Trial & Error parodies this documentary and the details of the case.[25]

A dramatic limited series adaptation of the docuseries, co-produced by Annapurna Television and HBO Max, was announced in March 2021. Titled The Staircase, it premiered on May 5, 2022. It stars Colin Firth as Michael Peterson; Toni Collette as Kathleen Peterson, Michael's wife; Sophie Turner as Margaret Ratliff, one of the Petersons' adopted daughters; Odessa Young as Martha Ratliff, the Petersons' other adopted daughter; Dane DeHaan as Clayton Peterson, Michael's eldest son from his first marriage; Patrick Schwarzenegger as Todd Peterson, Michael's youngest son from his first marriage; Rosemarie DeWitt as Candace Hunt Zamperini, Kathleen's sister; Michael Stuhlbarg as David Rudolf, Michael's lawyer; and Parker Posey as Durham county prosecutor Freda Black. Juliette Binoche as Sophie Brunet, the editor of the original documentary. Antonio Campos is credited as series creator and serves as co-showrunner with Maggie Cohn.[26][27][28]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Icher, Bruno (7 October 2004). "Télé: "soupçons", du réel en tranches". Libération (in French). Retrieved July 23, 2014.
  2. ^ Mathieu, Pierre. "De Lestrade, avocat à la caméra". La Dépêche. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
  3. ^ Court TV coverage Archived 2006-01-27 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ "The Stair Case". ABC News. Archived from the original on August 3, 2004. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
  5. ^ a b Lacob, Jace (March 4, 2014). "The Staircase: Director Jean-Xavier de Lestrade on Michael Peterson, Owls, and More". The Daily Beast. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
  6. ^ "The Staircase (Soupçons) (2004)". Maha Productions. Archived from the original on June 24, 2008. Retrieved August 15, 2014.
  7. ^ "BBC - Storyville". BBC. Archived from the original on January 13, 2005.
  8. ^ "With the Camera Lurking, Anatomy of a Defense Case". The New York Times. April 4, 2005. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
  9. ^ Catlin, Roger (April 25, 2005). "Sundance Series Follows The Other Peterson Murder". The Hartford Courant. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
  10. ^ Bergeson, Samantha (2022-05-12). "'The Staircase': Colin Firth and Toni Collette Won't Say If They Think Michael Peterson Is Guilty". IndieWire. Retrieved 2022-05-31.
  11. ^ "Writer accepts plea deal that allows him to maintain innocence in wife's death". ABC7 Chicago. Associated Press. 2017-02-24. Retrieved 2022-05-31.
  12. ^ 65th Annual Peabody Awards, May 2006.
  13. ^ "2005 IDA Distinguished Documentary Achievement Awards Nominees". International Documentary Association. 2012-03-16. Retrieved 2022-05-31.
  14. ^ Adam Benzine (April 3, 2012). "De Lestrade making sequel to "The Staircase"". Realscreen. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
  15. ^ "IDFA Catalogue 2012" (Adobe Flash). 10 December 2012. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
  16. ^ "The Staircase 2: The Last Chance" (Adobe Flash). IDFA Special (1) (English ed.). November 15, 2012.
  17. ^ "Soupçons – La dernière chance". Canal+. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
  18. ^ "Death on the Staircase: The Last Chance". BBC. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
  19. ^ "the staircase – new episodes coming soon". Sundance Channel. November 28, 2012. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
  20. ^ Goodfellow, Melanie (November 25, 2015). "Lestrade steps up" (Portable Document Format). IDFA Industry Special 2015 (4): 1. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
  21. ^ "Staircase III". IDFA. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
  22. ^ Trumbore, Dave (May 22, 2018). "Netflix Continues Your True-Crime Obsession with 'The Staircase' Trailer". Collider. Retrieved May 23, 2018.
  23. ^ Mount, Bailey (April 25, 2018). "'The Staircase': Everything You Need to Know About the Classic True Crime Series Coming to Netflix — With New Episodes". IndieWire. Retrieved May 23, 2018.
  24. ^ Nolan, Emma (2018-05-23). "The Staircase Netflix release date: When will The Staircase be released on Netflix?". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 2022-05-31.
  25. ^ "Trial & Error Detective". The New Yorker. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  26. ^ White, Peter (March 31, 2021). "'The Staircase': Colin Firth To Star In TV Drama Adaptation Of Classic True Crime Documentary For HBO Max From Antonio Campos & Maggie Cohn". Deadline. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  27. ^ Petski, Denise (April 29, 2021). "Toni Collette To Play Kathleen Peterson In 'The Staircase' Limited Series For HBO Max". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  28. ^ Sneider, Jeff (June 1, 2021). "Sophie Turner Joins 'The Staircase,' Which May Be the Next Great Crime Show on HBO Max". Collider.com. Collider. Retrieved June 1, 2021.

External links[edit]

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