Review of 12 Angry Men

Rating: 7/10 (18 April 2018)

Set in 1957, the monochrome film 12 Angry Men surprisingly did not seem any less relevant even when viewed more than 60 years later, highlighting disagreement, management and negotiation as timeless issues. The film showed Juror 8 as the only juror in a murder trial who did not vote for a guilty charge for the accused at the first vote. Over the course of the film, Juror 8 slowly but successfully manages to convince the other jurors that the case is not as clear as it seemed in court
1. Tone
Throughout the discussion, viewers will notice that more often than not, the jurors who were persuasive raised their points without raising their voices. Yet, even while they were not particularly loud and aggressive, it did not undermine their effectiveness.
2. Be hard on the problem but soft on the people
We observe that Juror 8 to be hard on the problem to ensure a fair decision was made, yet he maintained softness and empathy in approaching the jurors - showing respect and acknowledging their right to their own opinions.
While the negotiation took place in the context of the controlled setting of a movie, negotiations take place in our lives every day. Some negotiations may not result in an outcome that we came in to a discussion hoping to achieve. However, 12 Angry Men provide good tips on how we can conduct a negotiation.