Re-Creation, a hybrid docu-drama co-directed by the acclaimed filmmaker Jim Sheridan with David Merriman, reimagines the gripping intensity of Sydney Lumet’s masterpiece 12 Angry Men within the framework of a near-future courtroom drama. The film centres on a fictional trial in which twelve jurors are locked in a jury room to deliberate the fate of Ian Bailey, the man accused of the notorious murder of French filmmaker Sophie Toscan du Plantier. As they analyse real-life evidence, the jurors’ task is to untangle truth from speculation, all while the shadow of Sophie’s tragic fate looms large. 

At the heart of this tense drama is Juror 8, portrayed by Vicky Krieps, who becomes the embodiment of Sophie’s voice within the jury room. Paired with Juror 1, played by Jim Sheridan, Krieps’ character drives the narrative forward, pushing her fellow jurors to confront uncomfortable truths and challenging them to see Sophie not merely as a victim, but as a vibrant woman whose life was unjustly cut short. Krieps’ portrayal is hauntingly poignant, especially as her character physically and metaphorically steps into Sophie’s life—donning her clothes to “walk in her shoes,” and in doing so, resurrecting her spirit in a quest for justice. 

The remaining jurors embody the opposing perspective, adopting the prosecutor’s stance and advocating for Bailey’s conviction. Yet as the discussion progresses, the group’s collective stance begins to waver, with each new revelation shifting opinions and votes in a dynamic, unpredictable dance.  

Re-Creation is not just a film about a trial; it’s a meditation on truth, justice, and the haunting echoes of a life stolen, seen through the lens of those tasked with delivering a verdict that transcends the courtroom.