12

In a modern Moscow setting, twelve men from varied backgrounds are required to reach a unanimous verdict on a young Chechen defendant accused of killing his stepfather, a Russian army officer. The proceedings take place in a makeshift jury room built inside a school gym, transforming the space into a pressure cooker where every glance and remark carries weight. One by one, the jurors reveal their biases, memories, and hidden motives as they probe the case, press for details, and challenge incomplete evidence. Flashbacks trace the defendant's life from the horrors of war to the aftermath of his arrival in civil life, complicating the jurors' assumptions about guilt and justice. The outcome remains uncertain as conversations linger and moral questions.

Directed by Nikita Mikhalkov, 12 is a contemporary Moscow reimagining of the classic 12 Angry Men concept. It draws on Reginald Rose's premise with a Russian twist, adapting the material for local audiences while preserving the courtroom dynamic and moral questions.

The film had a budget of 4,000,000 dollars and grossed 7,537,453 worldwide, reflecting a modest but solid performance for a Russian drama of its scale. It earned most of its revenue in domestic markets where the story resonates in Europe.

Critics noted the film's tight ensemble work and its look at prejudice, class, and scars of war. It foregrounds how histories shape judgments about guilt and complicates easy answers, turning a courtroom drama into a meditation on memory, power, and responsibility. Motives stay elusive, keeping tension constant. That nuance lingers.

The Russian remake is frequently compared to the 1957 original and is discussed in cinephile circles as a local take on a timeless premise. While not a blockbuster, it contributes to conversations about how postwar trauma affects judgment and how cinema recontextualizes a familiar moral dilemma. Its tone remains measured.