Amanda Knox
Updated: Nov 23, 2022
(available on Netflix)
FTC Rating: 3 out of 5
An ambitious Amanda Knox leaves the University of Washington to pursue her linguistics degree in the picturesque town of Perugia, Italy. What should have been a time of joy and self-discovery quickly turns into a nightmare when her roommate, Meredith Kercher is found murdered in their home.
Strengths:
-Analysis of the crime scene, including the opinions of independent forensic experts
-Explores the investigation through the eyes of the Italian authorities vs. Amanda and her then boyfriend, Raffaele
-The interview with reporter Nick Pisa is obnoxious but it does successfully illustrate how the media reported the story
-Documentary humanizes Amanda Knox
-Despite the short format, the documentary effectively presents the story
Weaknesses:
-The interview format is unnatural, which often portrays the subjects as disingenuous or needlessly strange
-The documentary scratches the surface of where culpability should lie for the convictions but ultimately fails to draw any conclusions
-Although entitled “Amanda Knox”, the absence Meredith Kercher is still glaring
Final Thoughts:
-As an individual who speaks multiple languages, it is easy to understand how Amanda’s statements to Italian authorities could be misconstrued. Nuanced expressions and intonations are often problematic for those that are not native speakers.
-It is hardly surprising that the media and Italian officials portrayed the victim as a “Madonna” and the accused as a “whore”. There is still a stigma in society against sexually active, unmarried women.
