Murder at the Cottage: The Search for Justice for Sophie

Considering it took twelve years to make this documentary, I'm not impressed with the quality at all. The style is very old fashioned and the content is lacking, especially when compared to West Cork (podcast on audible) which brings everything to life and is packed with information about Bailey's background, Sophie Du Plantier, the case, and an abundance of interviews with all the key figures. This show contains unnecessary cringe-worthy moments such as Sheridan's narration saying "She's buried in France but her soul is in Ireland." Give me a break. I am giving it a six because I'm generous, but I think even that is pushing it.

Watching both the Netflix documentary and this one, it's easy to see which is more focused on fact and letting people, and the story, speak for themselves.

Watching the first five minutes of this alone, you can see how much Jim Sheridan allows his ego and droll opinion to influence his efforts to tell HIS story, not THE story. Oh, and if you didn't know Jim was a 6 time Oscar nominated filmmaker, you will, after being informed very first thing in the film. And in every review. And every summary of the series. And he's almost the first thing on camera, before the story. It's bizzarely strange how it all seems like a self promotional film at times...

His narration and conclusions are mind numbing and baffling to the point of questioning his judgement and mental state. If he truly spent 12 years making this, one might conclude he allowed himself to get too close to the matter (and some individuals) and couldn't see the forest through the (Xmas) trees...

I was so looking forward to this series but it was shocking bad. Sheridan trundles around West Cork and Paris like a man with a bad hangover. He never once questions Bailey about the inconsistencies in his story. It could have been good, it wasn't. There is a complete lack of investigative quality and one comes away with the impression that the only investigation Sheridan carried out was sifting though a folder of press cutting given to him by Ian Bailey. I'm giving it a two because I don't want to be mean and give it zero.

If they dispensed with the dozen or more talking heads and repeating the same scenes over and over, plus the, long, lingering shots of the countryside it would be a lot more watchable. I found myself fast forwarding so treacly slow was the pace.

Why in the world did they spend so much time and effort and money and energy on a person who clearly wasn't guilty? They could've been looking elsewhere. No wonder this case wasn't successful! This poor woman laid there for over 24 hours before they even removed her cold body from the scene. I pity Ireland and their judicial system. They're not equipped to deal with serious crimes. They tried to blackmail people. Set this Ian dude up. That guy and his wife has to live with that mess for the rest of their lives because instead of the garda trying to find the ACTUAL murderer, they spent all that time ruining 2 peoples lives! It's pathetic! Absolutely pathetic!!! I feel so bad for the victim, the new victims created in this story, Ian and Jules.. and most of all the family and child of Sophia! This is a tragedy from the beginning to end. It's mind blowing that no one ever asked why weren't they pursuing any other leads? SMH..