12 Angry Men Film Assignment

12 Angry Men Film Assignment

Hook: Have you ever been falsely accused of something? Why might your accusers have assumed you were guilty in that situation?

Key Ideas:

• Alibi:

• Circumstantial Evidence:

• “Beyond a reasonable doubt”:

• Jury Consensus:

Note-taking questions (during the film)--

Describe the opening scene in detail—how do the sights, sounds, and aspects of film (camera angle, camera movement, etc.) establish a tone?

What are the jurors certain about? What are they uncertain about? How do you know?

Is total impartiality—or an unbiased view of the facts—possible for these jurors? Why or why not?

How does the film portray the jurors’ growing discomfort? How does this establish a mood?

How does Juror #8 (Mr. Davis) reveal his perspective throughout the film? How does this change other jurors’ perspectives?

Describe the closing scene in detail. What does the film emphasize through the sights and sounds of the last scene?

Response Questions (after the film):

Explain what Juror #8 means by observing that “prejudice obscures the truth?”

Is total impartiality possible for anybody at all? Why or why not?

What would justice look like in this jury room or court case?

What does the jury process reveal about the jurors’ own prejudices and biases?

What comment is the film making on why ungrounded or insufficiently proven accusations are made? What causes an individual or group to make these kinds of accusations?