Z

Z

  • Director: Costa-Gavras
  • Writer: Vassilis Vassilikos,Jorge Semprún,Costa-Gavras
  • Countries of origin: France, Algeria
  • Language: French, Russian, English
  • Release date: December 8, 1969
  • Sound mix: Mono
  • Aspect ratio: 1.66 : 1
  • Also known as: Z - Anatomie eines politischen Mordes
  • "Z" is a suspense film directed by Costa-Gavras , starring Yves Montand and Jean-Louis Trintignant . It was released in France on February 26, 1969.
    The film is adapted from the novel "Z" written by Vassilis Vassilikos. It tells the story of Mr. Z, the opposition leader, who was murdered in a Mediterranean country with a dictatorship. The young prosecutor resisted the pressure of the government and insisted on pursuing the truth of the case   .

    Details

    • Release date December 8, 1969
    • Filming locations St. George Hotel, 24 Avenue Soudoni Boudjemaa, Algiers, Algeria
    • Production companies Valoria Films, Reggane Films, Office National pour le Commerce et l'Industrie Cinématographique (ONCIC)

    Box office

    Gross US & Canada

    $83,305

    Opening weekend US & Canada

    $10,144

    Gross worldwide

    $83,305

    Movie reviews

     ( 12 ) Add reviews

    • By Kylie 2022-07-21 20:55:12

      Spotlight: All Movies Are Political Movies

      "If the film has any resemblance to the facts, the living or the dead, it is not a coincidence, it is intentional."

      By Kari 2022-03-15 09:01:10

      Z's heart is still beating

      It is a blessing to be able to watch this pioneering political film on the big screen, and it is even more honorable to see the 85-year-old director, Mr. Gavras, in person at the Film Archive. I don't see many political movies, but a movie that nakedly restores political events is really shocking! The whole film begins with the sentence "If the story of this film is similar to any real thing, it is no coincidence, but intentional." Awesome! The film is based on the real incident in...

    • By Shaina 2022-03-14 14:12:30

      Ideological diseases are like viruses, and preventive measures must also be taken

      During the Cold War in the 1960s, countries under the control of right-wing soldiers and police (alluding to Greece) sent thugs to assassinate senators in order to crack down on the speeches of left-wing senators at home and incited the people. Later, they covered up the truth in every possible way, destroyed evidence, and killed witnesses. After the incident was revealed, despite being charged by conscientious judges, senior military and police officials were only given a symbolic...

    • By Mikel 2022-02-24 08:02:25

      the director said

      "Z" is a representative work of political film. The term "political film" originated from this film. As the film shocked the international film circle and achieved great commercial success as soon as it was launched, it not only made Costa-Gavras famous, but also promoted a wave of political films in the West and even the world. Of course, the rise of this upsurge is also closely related to the turbulent international situation and the historical background of intensifying various domestic...

    • By Herminio 2022-02-24 08:02:25

      hot news

      This is really a classic movie with political themes. Often a small thing can change the future direction of the country. In the book "The Fifteen Years of Wanli", seemingly unrelated little things have had a profound impact on the country. , No matter the left or the right or the royal family, without the support of the army, it is a castle in the air. It is possible that a temporary victory will only be temporary. Once again, it proves that Chairman Mao said that a gun emerges from the...

    User comments

      ( 61 ) Add comments

    • By Katrine 2022-03-26 09:01:13

      The prosecutor and the reporter were good. It was found that the murderer behind the scenes was a high-level police officer, but the murderer was only given a light sentence. On the contrary, good people, including reporters, were given a heavy sentence, and the military seized...

    • By Elouise 2022-03-26 09:01:13

      Too beautiful! The provocative opening makes you feel that this is the meaning and value of the film's existence. Besides, nothing in this world is fictional. The ending is even more bunkered, thinking that it's all solved, in fact, it will only get worse, but that's how realpolitik works. In addition, isn't this the modern version of the French Revolution (even the characters can be seated one by one?)! Trentignan was so handsome when he was...

    • By Emil 2022-03-26 09:01:13

      The way of moving the camera is very innovative. It has both a sense of flow and rhythm. However, Bertolucci is much more skilled later; Gabriel is actually the director of the French Film...

    • By Jimmie 2022-03-26 09:01:13

      Don't know the background, it's painful to watch... almost fell...

    • By Garry 2022-03-26 09:01:13

      Crappy assassination, superb...

    Movie plot

    In an autocratic country in the Mediterranean, the power of the autocracy and the power of the people are brewing a big storm.
    The country's opposition lawmaker, peace movement leader, Olympic champion, MD Z, prepares to speak at a mass rally against foreign military forces. But the rally was extremely difficult. First, the theater owner canceled the original contract under the pressure of the authorities. He could only move the venue...
    more about Z Movie plot

    Creative background

    Director Costa-Gavras's father was persecuted by the Greek authorities for being suspected of being a Communist Party. Costa-Gavras spent his childhood under political discrimination and white terror. At the age of 19, he went into exile in Paris. In 1967, when the Greek military group staged a right-wing coup d'etat, he happened to read the novel "Z" by Vassilis Vassilikos (Z means "life" in Greek) . After reading this novel...
    more about Z Creative background

    Evaluation action

    As a documentary about a political murder and its investigation, it may be boring, but the director of the film has made the film alive with superb artistic skills, which is both gripping, thought-provoking, and full of call for justice. It doesn't fall into the trap of being out of the way, cleverly eschewing the mysteries and gimmicks that usually describe murders, nor the boring clichés of films that generally reflect political...
    more about Z Evaluation action

    Movie quotes

    • The General: Yago this, Yago that! Nonsense!

    • La soeur de Nick: You hate me for succeeding in life. Huh?

      Nick: You and your husband hate me.

      La soeur de Nick: Never mind him. You've caused him enough trouble! You want to destroy my life. When Papa died, I hoped you'd take his place. I needed security. You ignored me. You never took me anywhere. You preferred soccer and thugs like Yago.

    • La soeur de Nick: I'll tell you what happened, because you print a lot of nonsense.

      Le photojournaliste: Were you there.

      La soeur de Nick: No, but he wasn't struck. He slipped or passed out or leftists hit him to stir up trouble.

      Le photojournaliste: That's what the police say.