State of Siege (1972)
"État de siège" (original title)

In Uruguay in the early 1970s, an official of the US Agency for International Development (a group used as a front for training foreign police in counterinsurgency methods) is kidnapped by ... See full summary »

Director:

Costa-Gavras

Writers:

Franco Solinas, Costa-Gavras (original scenario),

Stars:

Yves Montand, Renato Salvatori, O.E. Hasse

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 4 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Yves Montand	...	Philip Michael Santore
Renato Salvatori	...	Captain Lopez
O.E. Hasse	...	Carlos Ducas
Jacques Weber	...	Hugo
Jean-Luc Bideau	...	Este
Maurice Teynac	...	Minister of Internal Security
Yvette Etiévant	...	Woman Senator
Evangeline Peterson	...	Mrs. Santore
Harald Wolff	...	Minister of Foreign Affairs
Nemesio Antúnez	...	President of the Republic
Mario Montilles	...	Assistant Commissioner Fontant
André Falcon	...	Deputy Fabbri
Jerry Brouer	...	Anthony Lee
Roberto Navarrete	...	Commissioner Romero
Douglas Harris	...	A.I.D. Director

Storyline

In Uruguay in the early 1970s, an official of the US Agency for International Development (a group used as a front for training foreign police in counterinsurgency methods) is kidnapped by a group of urban guerillas. Using his interrogation as a backdrop, the film explores the often brutal consequences of the struggle between Uruguay's government and the leftist Tupamaro guerillas.

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Plot Keywords:

uruguay | guerilla | revolutionary | south america | third world | 

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Details

Country:

France Italy West Germany

Language:

French

Release Date:

22 March 1973 (Italy)

Also Known As:

State of Siege

Filming Locations:

Cerro Playa Ancha, Valparaíso, V Región, Chile

Company Credits

Production Co:

Reggane Films, Euro International Film (EIA), Unidis

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was going to be the first movie shown in the new John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. It was cancelled because the plot of the movie was judged to be inappropriate. This caused a big controversy. A Washington D.C. television station took advantage of the controversy by acquiring the broadcast rights to the film and showing it uncut after running a big advertising campaign calling it the "film banned from the Kennedy Center."

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Goofs

The name of the Brazilian Ambassador in Uruguay is Fernando Campos (the name is revealed throughout the film). But in the beginning of the film right before his kidnap his name appears on a sign at his house as Roberto Campos.

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Connections

Featured in The American Experience: Guerrilla: The Taking of Patty Hearst (2004)

User Reviews

A film of historical importance

State of Siege shows how the U.S. aided and abetted right-wing dictatorships in Latin America during the Cold War. Yves Montand plays an American sent by our government to teach torture techniques to police in Uruguay. He is kidnapped by Tupamaro guerillas, interrogated and presented with proof of his activities. We witness how the military, the diplomats, and the press deal with the crisis. State of Siege generates a great deal of tension and suspense, even though we know the outcome. Director Costa-Gavras tends to romanticize the Left, but what is presented here is now widely acknowledged as fact. State of Siege is a film of historical importance that deserves your attention.