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Yves Montand,
Yves Montand,
Irene Papas,
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Costa-Gavras,
Costa-Gavras
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: Criterion
: Foreign, France, Political Thriller, Africa, Algeria, Criterion Collection
: 127 min.
: French
: English, Spanish, German
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Z is one of the most politically insightful films ever made, exposing government hypocrisy and cover-up in the wake of a political assassination. Zei (Yves Montand) is a scientist who is scheduled to give a speech against the use of the atomic bomb. On the way to the event, he is attacked outside the auditorium by a group of right-wing extremists with political ties to the government as the police stand by and do nothing to intervene. He recovers long enough to make the speech but is later clubbed again and must undergo several surgeries, then dies during one of the procedures. A newspaper reporter finds a witness to the event and a judge willing to hear the case despite government protests. The ensuing trial reveals a government conspiracy, but the results of the trial are thrown out when a new government is formed by a military coup, which results in the intolerance that outlaws long hair, the Beatles, and any peaceful protests. Director Costa-Gavras used actual trial transcripts of the investigation into the May 22, 1963, assassination of Greek pacifist leader Gregoris Lambrakis, which proved a government conspiracy in his death. Yves Montand gives the best dramatic performance of his life, and Irene Papas stars as his wife, Helena. Z won the Oscar for Best Foreign Film of 1969, was 14th in terms of box-office success, and hit an international nerve in the age of social unrest, government cover-up, and political assassinations. All those involved worked on the film for a reduced rate with an option for royalties based on earnings at the theater window. The letter Z in the Greek alphabet means "he is alive." ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
Special Features:
- New, restored high-definition digital transfer, approved by cinematographer Raoul Coutard
- Audio commentary featuring film historian Peter Cowie
- New interviews with Costa-Gavras and Coutard
- Archival interviews with Costa-Gavras; producer-actor Jacques Perrin; actors Yves Montand, Irčne Papas, and Jean-Louis Trintignant; and Vassilis Vassilikos, author of the book Z
- Theatrical trailer
- New and improved English subtitle translation
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by skybrian
June 11, 2003 - 10:49 PM PDT
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13 out of 16 members found this review helpful
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The dialog is in French, it was filmed in Algeria, and the movie never explicitly says where it takes place, but the story is based on the assassination of the Greek leftist Grigoris Lambrakis in Thessaloniki in 1963. "Any similarity to actual events or persons living or dead is not coincidental. It is intentional." Based on a novel by Vassilis Vassilikos.
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GreenCine Member Rating
(Average 7.78)
163 Votes
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