Z (1969)

Director:

Costa-Gavras

Writers:

Vasilis Vasilikos (novel)
Jorge Semprún (writer)
(more)

Release Date:

8 December 1969 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | History | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

Following the murder of a prominent leftist, an investigator tries to uncover the truth while government officials attempt to cover up their roles.

Plot Keywords:

Rally | Cover Up | Right Wing | Government | Police

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 10 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

Yves Montand	...	Z
Irene Papas	...	Hélène
Jean-Louis Trintignant	...	Le juge d'instruction
Jacques Perrin	...	Le photojournaliste
Charles Denner	...	Manuel
François Périer	...	Le procureur
Pierre Dux	...	Le général de gendarmerie
Georges Géret	...	Nick (as Georges Geret)
Bernard Fresson	...	Matt
Marcel Bozzuffi	...	Vago (as Marcel Bozzufi)
Julien Guiomar	...	Le colonel de gendarmerie
Magali Noël	...	La soeur de Nick
Renato Salvatori	...	Yago
Habib Reda
Clotilde Joano	...	Shoula (as Clotilde Joanno)
Maurice Baquet	...	Le maçon héroïque
Sid Ahmed Agoumi
Allel El Mouhib
Hassan Hassani	...	Le chauffeur du général
Gérard Darrieu	...	Barone
Jean Bouise	...	Georges Pirou
Jean-Pierre Miquel	...	Pierre - un avocat
Van Doude	...	Le directeur de l'hôpital
Jean Dasté	...	Ilya Coste (as Jean Daste)
Jean-François Gobbi	...	Jimmy, le boxeur
Guy Mairesse	...	Dumas dit le Russe
Andrée Tainsy	...	La mère de Nick
Eva Simonet	...	Niki, la fille du procureur
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
François Chaumette	...	(voice)
José Artur	...	Le rédacteur en chef du journal (uncredited)
Raoul Coutard	...	Le chirurgien anglais (uncredited)
Bob de Bragelonne	...	Le sous-secrétaire d'Etat (uncredited)
Steve Gadler	...	Le photographe anglais (uncredited)
Gabriel Jabbour	...	Bozzini (uncredited)
Georges Rouquier	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Costa-Gavras

Writing credits
Vasilis Vasilikos		(novel) (as Vassili Vassilikos)
Jorge Semprún		(writer)
Costa-Gavras		uncredited
Ben Barzman		uncredited

Produced by
Philippe d'Argila	....	associate producer
Jacques Perrin	....	delegate producer
Ahmed Rachedi	....	delegate producer
Eric Schlumberger	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Mikis Theodorakis

Cinematography by
Raoul Coutard

Film Editing by
Françoise Bonnot

Production Design by
Jacques D'Ovidio

Set Decoration by
Jacques D'Ovidio

Costume Design by
Piet Bolscher		(as Piet Bolsher)

Production Management
Mourad Bouchouchi	....	production manager
Mohamed Ouled Moussa	....	production manager
Hubert Mérial	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ghaouti Bendedouche	....	assistant director
Philippe Monnier	....	assistant director

Art Department
Iahemzizou Nour Eddine	....	assistant set decorator

Sound Department
Marie-Thérèse Boiché	....	assistant sound editor
Michèle Boëhm	....	sound editor
Sidi Boumedienne Dahmane	....	sound engineer
Lionel de Souza	....	sound recordist
Jean Nény	....	sound engineer (as Jean Neny)
Alexandre Popovic	....	sound recordist
Alex Pront	....	sound engineer

Stunts
Yvan Chiffre	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Jean Garcenot	....	camera operator (as Jean Garcennot)
Taibi Lamouri	....	camera operator
Georges Liron	....	camera operator

Music Department
Bernard Gérard	....	orchestrator

Other crew
Lionel de Souza	....	stage manager
Annie Maurel	....	script girl
Alexandre Popovic	....	stage manager
Jacques Monod	....	dubbing voice: Le procureur général (uncredited)
William Sabatier	....	dubbing voice: Yago (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Office National pour le Commerce et l'Industrie Cinématographique
• Reggane Films
• Valoria Films

Distributors

• Valoria Films (1969) (France) (theatrical)
• Cinema 5 Distributing (1969) (USA) (theatrical)
• Cinema V (1969) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (1969) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1974) (USA) (TV) (English dubbed version)
• Columbia Pictures Home Entertainment (1980) (USA) (VHS) (pan and scan / dubbed)
• Wellspring Media (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• KinoVista (2007) (Russia) (TV)
• Odeon (2008) (Greece) (all media) (re-issue)
• Janus Films (2009) (USA) (theatrical)
• Rialto Pictures (2009) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Criterion Collection, The (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2010) (Australia) (DVD)
• Alphaview Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Manga Films
• MediaOutlet.com (????) (USA) (DVD)
• Versátil Home Vídeo (Brazil) (DVD)
• Versátil Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

127 min

Country:

France | Algeria

Language:

French | Russian | English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Finland:K-16 | Spain:13 (re rating) | Sweden:15 | USA:M (original rating) | USA:PG | West Germany:16 | Singapore:PG | Spain:(Banned) (1969 - 1976) | Peru:14 | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Algeria

Company:

Office National pour le Commerce et l'Industrie Cinématographique

Trivia:

Tied with the Fritz Lang movie M (1931) for the record for shortest movie title ever. This happens only in English countries because around the world it is known as the only shortest title of a movie mainly because 'M', in many other countries was released with the subtitle of 'The Vampire of Dusseldorf', while 'Z' didn't received any kind of subtitles. Holds the record for the movie with the shortest title to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture.

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: After Georges Géret as Nick is hit on the front of the head, he holds the back of it.

Quotes:

Z:[Z to his wife in flashback] Want to tell them the truth? They'll live the truth later.

Movie Connections:

References The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)

Soundtrack:

Messe Pour le Temps Présent--Psyché Rock

conspiracy, tension and

This is a great Costa-Gavras' masterpiece about a political confusion caused by a murder of a politic. Costa-Gravas again shows his talent in this interesting film that is full of conspiracy, tension and confusion. The plot is complex but you can follow it and, once you do it, you enjoy the film a lot. There's this dark atmosphere in the whole length of the movie that gives it a nice and enchanting look. I think the best way to watch "Z" is in total silence, with your eyes glued to the screen and your mind turned towards the frames and all the great actions and dialogues.

My rate 8 out of 10