Z (1969)

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

Director:

Costa-Gavras

Writers:

Vasilis Vasilikos (novel) (as Vassili Vassilikos), Jorge Semprún (dialogue) (as Jorge Semprun)

Stars:

Yves Montand, Irene Papas, Jean-Louis Trintignant

Won 2 Oscars. Another 9 wins & 12 nominations.

Cast

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
Habib Reda
Clotilde Joano	...	Shoula (as Clotilde Joanno)

Storyline

In a military-led country, a pacifist organization, which supports the opposition party in the government, is planning on holding an anti-military rally. The organization's leader is scheduled to arrive the day of the rally. During the rally, a kamikaze attack kills the deputy. The official report is that the incident was an accident. In reality, the deputy's death was murder orchestrated by the secret police, Thrown into the mix is a photojournalist who's looking for the truth.

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Plot Keywords:

rally | police | government | military | politician | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | History | Thriller

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Certificate:

M/PG

Details

Country:

France Algeria

Language:

French Russian English

Release Date:

8 December 1969 (USA)

Also Known As:

Z

Filming Locations:

Algeria

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$10,144, 15 March 2009, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$83,305, 13 September 2009

Company Credits

Production Co:

Valoria Films,Reggane Films,Office National pour le Commerce et l'Industrie Cinématographique (ONCIC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

127 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The producers of the film refused the Golden Globe award given for Best Foreign Language Film because they expected to receive a nomination as Best Motion Picture - Drama. As of 2014, it remains the only film to do so. (Source: Hollywood Foreign Press Association).

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Goofs

After hitting Z, Vigo and Yago escape on a three-wheeler. Shortly thereafter, the driver Yago is captured by a policeman. The policeman searches him and finds a truncheon. When the guard uses the truncheon on Yago's chest to keep him away, the stick clearly flexes.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Deputy Minister of Agriculture: Mildew is prevented by spraying the vines with a solution of copper sulfate. There are two standard remedies: Bordeaux mixture and Burgundy mixture - named after the French provinces famous for its wines. The vines are sprayed three times a year: first when the shoots are about five inches long; second, just before or after the blossoms appear; and the third time, a month later. Spraying is preventative and thus essential

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Crazy Credits

Any resemblance to actual events, to persons living or dead, is not the result of chance. It is DELIBERATE. (Signed by) Jorge Semprún, Costa-Gavras

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Connections

Featured in Looking for Athènes (2013)

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Soundtracks

Batucada
Composed by Mikis Theodorakis
Arranged By, Conducted by Bernard Gérard
Published By April Music
(p) CBS Records / Columbia

User Reviews

Historical moment at the Oscars and Tonight Show

When the preview of "Z" was shown at the Oscars, it received a standing ovation. I didn't know why until I saw the movie. The Oscar forced it to be shown in the United States. At the time, the US backed the military government in Greece. The totalitarian government represented a stand against communism. This movie depicts the true story of a beloved olympic athlete who became a doctor and began speaking out against his Greek government. For that, he was murdered. This is about a brave investigator who begins to search for the origin of the orders to have the doctor killed.

It leads to the downfall of a country. Mikis Theordorakis wrote the music from house arrest in Greece and it was smuggled out to be placed on the film. Yves Montand played the lead role and was blacklisted from getting a US Visa for his participation until some strings were pulled and he was allowed a 24 hour visa, to be extended each 24 hours in order to allow him to film "On A Clear Day You Can See Forever". At the end of filming,that night he made a surprise appearance on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show. He told the story about "Z" and commented that he was in the care and custody of US Immigration and the FBI. The camera panned right and a dark suited man slid quickly behind the curtain. He apologized for his abruptness, but his visa expired at midnight and he had to get to the airport. When I saw these things, I was shocked my government would take a movie so seriously. When it showed up in an obscure movie theater in Houston, I had to go. I was the only person buying a ticket just after noon that day. Upon entering the theater, a dark suited man was sitting in the lobby. I walked into theater and then stuck my head back out to see what the only other individual in the theater was doing. He was stepping away from the ticket booth. I watched as he walked the short distance to my car, took out a notebook and wrote in it while looking at my license plate. This is how it happened. It was 1969. J. Edgar Hoover had stated publicly that no truly loyal American would pay money to see such a movie. It was unpatriotic. Newspaper articles that spring reported it.

Watch this movie and consider the importance "entertainment" can have on government, media, and yourself.