12 (2:39) 2007

12 is the critically acclaimed Russian version of  Twelve Angry Men. In this adapted version, twelve men from all walks of life serve on a jury deciding the fate of  a young Chechen man accused on murdering his foster father, a Russian soldier. The jury quickly takes a vote as they initally view this as an open and shut case. Eleven vote guilty, one man votes not guilty. As they begin to discuss the case, one by one, the jurors switch their vote because they each have reasonable doubt. As the deliberations wear on, each juror reveals an event from his own life intertwined with flashbacks of the accused's early life. 12 shows the Russian system of justice with its similarities and differences to our system. 12 is a very good movie and it is good and long. I had to take a break after two hours, 12 definitely could have been shortened. The ending of the movie, when I finally got to it, was very powerful. If  long Russian novels are your thing, knock yourself out on some long winter's night.