12 (2007 film)

12
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Nikita Mikhalkov
Screenplay by	Nikita Mikhalkov Alexander Novototsky-Vlasov Vladimir Moiseenko
Based on	12 Angry Men by Reginald Rose Twelve Angry Men by Reginald Rose Twelve Angry Men by Reginald Rose
Produced by	Nikita Mikhalkov Leonid Vereschtchaguine
Starring	Sergei Makovetsky Nikita Mikhalkov Sergei Garmash Valentin Gaft Alexei Petrenko Yuri Stoyanov
Cinematography	Vladislav Opelyants
Edited by	Enzo Meniconi Andrei Zaytsev
Music by	Eduard Artemyev
Distributed by	TriTe
Release dates	7 September 2007 (2007-09-07) (Venice) 20 September 2007 (2007-09-20)
Running time	159 minutes
Country	Russia
Languages	Russian, Chechen
Budget	$2.5 million
Box office	$7.5 million

12 is a 2007 crime film by Russian director, screenwriter, producer and actor Nikita Mikhalkov. The film is a Russian-language remake of Sidney Lumet's 1957 film 12 Angry Men, which in turn was based on Reginald Rose's 1955 stage play, Twelve Angry Men, itself based on Rose's 1954 teleplay of the latter's same name.

Mikhalkov was awarded the Special Lion at the 64th Venice International Film Festival for his work on the film, which also received an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film.

Plot

The jury decides whether a young Chechen boy is guilty of the murder of his stepfather, a Russian military officer. Initially it seems that the boy was the murderer. However, one of the jurors (Sergei Makovetsky) votes in favour of acquittal. Since the verdict must be rendered unanimously, the jurors review the case, and one by one come to the conclusion that the boy was framed. The murder was performed by criminals involved in the construction business. The discussion is repeatedly interrupted by flashbacks from the boy's wartime childhood.

In the end the foreman states that he was sure the boy did not commit the crime but he will not vote in favour of acquittal since the acquitted boy will be subsequently killed by the same criminals. In addition, the foreman reveals that he is a former intelligence agency officer. After a brief argument, the foreman agrees to join the majority. Later the foreman tells the boy that he will find the murderers.

Cast

• Sergei Makovetsky – 1st Juror
• Nikita Mikhalkov – 2nd Juror
• Sergei Garmash – 3rd Juror
• Valentin Gaft – 4th Juror
• Alexei Petrenko – 5th Juror
• Yuri Stoyanov – 6th Juror
• Sergei Gazarov – 7th Juror
• Mikhail Yefremov – 8th Juror
• Alexey Gorbunov – 9th Juror
• Sergei Artsibashev – 10th Juror
• Viktor Verzhbitsky – 11th Juror
• Roman Madyanov – 12th Juror
• Alexander Adabashyan – Bailiff
• Apti Magamayev – Chechen boy

Reception

The movie received mixed critical opinion in Russia and abroad. The Venice Film Festival jury defined the movie as "confirmation of his [Mikhalkov's] mastery in exploring and revealing to us, with great humanity and emotion, the complexity of existence". Russian president Vladimir Putin together with the film crew, Chechnya's president Ramzan Kadyrov and Ingushetia's president Murat Zyazikov watched the film in Putin's residence in Novo-Ogarevo. After the screening Putin remarked that the film "brought a tear to the eye".

On the other hand, opposition journalist Zoya Svetova labeled the film as pro-Putin, pointing out that the head juror is a secret service officer, while a juror, supposedly representing a Russian liberal, resembles Russian opposition politician Valeriya Novodvorskaya. Another juror (a television producer), is seen as a caricature of Russian producer Dmitry Lesnevsky.

Awards

On 8 September 2007, the film received a special Golden Lion for the "consistent brilliance" of its work and was praised by many critics at the 64th Venice International Film Festival. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

External links

• 12 at IMDb
• 12 at Rotten Tomatoes
• 12 at AllMovie
• "12". Sony Classics. Archived from the original on 2009-02-25. Retrieved 2018-11-26.
• TriTe – Mikhalkov Productions
• The eXile- Revisiting 12: Mikhalkov's "Oscar-Worthy" Remake – By Yasha Levine