The first-look trailer has been released for the upcoming three-part series from Oscar-winning producer Simon Chinn under his company banner Lightbox, best known for Searching for Sugarman and Man on Wire.
Sophie: A Murder in West Cork is a documentary series examining one of Ireland’s most famous murders, that of French documentary producer Sophie Toscan du Plantier, in West Cork in 1996.
The series was filmed in West Cork, Ireland and in France. Alongside the exclusive contributions from members of Sophie’s family including her son Pierre-Louis Baudey, the series includes interviews with residents from Schull and the local press, who are all close to the story.
Sophie: A Murder in West Cork is directed by BAFTA nominee John Dower (Bradley Wiggins: A Year in Yellow), executive produced by Simon Chinn, and Irish producer Suzanne Lavery (The Naked Truth), and produced by Sarah Lambert (Captive).
“In making this documentary we wanted to honour Sophie, her family and that rural community in the South West of Ireland,” said Irish executive producer, Suzanne Lavery.
“Even now, I find it genuinely astonishing that something so terrible could have happened not just to a woman who appeared to have such a gilded life but in such a beautiful place and to a community that prided itself on its peacefulness, its safety and inclusivity,” Lavery added. “It’s what drew Sophie there. What does seem so tragic, is that Sophie’s perfect escape turned out to be where she lost her life. And the shock of it still reverberates in that community 25 years later.”
Producer, Sarah Lambert added: “It's been our privilege to explore who she was and to bring that to the audience. We hope we have done her justice.”
“I’m a great believer in ensemble filmmaking with a large cast of storytellers, because a story is never simple,”says Director, John Dower. “You need all those different takes and angles to get to the richer, more compelling stories. I also always look for people who have genuinely lived the story we are telling.”
Sophie: A Murder in West Cork available to stream from June 30th.