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The jury decides whether a young Chechen boy is guilty in 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 construction business. The discussion is repeatedly interrupted by flashbacks from the boy's wartime childhood.

In the end the foreman (Mikhalkov himself) 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.


Detail Info
Directed by Nikita Mikhalkov
Produced by Nikita Mikhalkov, Leonid Vereschtchaguine
Written by Reginald Rose, Nikita Mikhalkov, Alexander Novototsky-Vlasov, Vladimir Moiseenko
Music by Eduard Artemyev
Cinematography Vladislav Opelyants
Distributed by TriTe
Release date(s) Mar 6th, 2009
Running time 159 minutes
Country Russia
Language Russian/Chechen
Budget $4 million