Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Yves Montand | ... | Z | |
Irene Papas | ... | Hélène (as Irène Papas) | |
Jean-Louis Trintignant | ... | Le juge d'instruction | |
François Périer | ... | Le procureur | |
Jacques Perrin | ... | Le photojournaliste | |
Charles Denner | ... | Manuel | |
Pierre Dux | ... | Le général de gendarmerie Missou | |
Georges Géret | ... | Nick | |
Bernard Fresson | ... | Matt | |
Marcel Bozzuffi | ... | Vago (as Marcel Bozzufi) | |
Julien Guiomar | ... | Le colonel de gendarmerie | |
Magali Noël | ... | La soeur de Nick | |
Renato Salvatori | ... | Yago | |
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Habib Reda | ||
Clotilde Joano | ... | Shoula (as Clotilde Joanno) |
In a mid-sized metropolis (population 500,000) in a right-wing military led country, a pacifist organization, which supports the opposition party in the government, is planning on holding an anti-military, nuclear disarmament rally. The organization's charismatic leader - the deputy - is scheduled to arrive in the town from the capital the day of the rally. Beyond the problems arranging the rally due to the probable incitement of violence at such a rally, the organization learns of an unconfirmed report that there will be an attempt on the deputy's life. The rally does happen, after which a three-wheeled kamikaze runs over the deputy, who eventually passes away from his injuries. The official report is that the incident was a drunken accident. In reality, the deputy's death was murder orchestrated by the secret police, the general for who likens the pacifist organization to mildew killing off agricultural crops. A magistrate is assigned to the case. Although he does have political ... Written by Huggo
Having seen this at the Art Theatre in Akron, Ohio, upon its first American release, this film was a forcefully stunning, face slapping wake up call to keep a vigilant eye on most politicians because they are controlled only by the constraints we present and confine them with. Grown men left the theater with tears pouring down their cheeks not only because of the great performances and story, but because these were the Nixon years, and the film made us realize we were only a pen stroke away from the horror of losing freedom and democracy here in the United States. No country is safe, and it could be argued in areas of Florida today that, even though we preserved our nation and eliminated Nixon, it was a Pyrhic victory, a temporary victory, and our democracy and how it is supposed to ethically work was left disheveled and browbeaten in the end, anyway. One thing is for certain; the rats are in the cupboard now. And this film hits all the right buttons; great music, acting, an avant garde documentary style of filming that was sensational in its time and still is good today, but so many people have copied it, it seems to lack originality since we are so accepting now of something that was novel at the time...but this is the real thing that started it all. A film that should be in everyone's home and shown to every civic class in America.