Do read the review of lhwilliams on this site, as he had a personal experience involving this film that is thoroughly believable given the times and fascinating as well.
Z deals with the real-life assassination of Greek politician Grigoris Lambrakis, an athlete turned doctor turned politician who believed in peace and humanity and lost his life as a result.
Costas Gavras takes us to 1963, and though Greece isn't mentioned, we are in Greece and shows us the events surrounding the death of Lambrakis -- what led up to it, and what followed it.
Yves Montand and Irene Pappas took roles in this -- Montand's role is not large, as he's the murdered man. And as you'll read from lhwilliams, making this film caused him plenty of problems. Costa-Gravas himself said that Irene Pappas really couldn't be touched as she didn't care, and she wanted to be in the film. Jean-Louis Trintignant was brilliant as the Examining Magistrate, who doesn't give away his decision on whether or not to carry on with the case. He's under a great deal of pressure not to prosecute the police, who stood by and let the violence happen. You really don't know what he's going to do until the last minute. The commentary at the end of the film is sad indeed, as we see that there was just no fighting the power of the state.
The murder did make a difference, at least briefly, as far as the government of Greece.
A very impressive film, with some marvelous acting, that has an important message.
Z deals with the real-life assassination of Greek politician Grigoris Lambrakis, an athlete turned doctor turned politician who believed in peace and humanity and lost his life as a result.
Costas Gavras takes us to 1963, and though Greece isn't mentioned, we are in Greece and shows us the events surrounding the death of Lambrakis -- what led up to it, and what followed it.
Yves Montand and Irene Pappas took roles in this -- Montand's role is not large, as he's the murdered man. And as you'll read from lhwilliams, making this film caused him plenty of problems. Costa-Gravas himself said that Irene Pappas really couldn't be touched as she didn't care, and she wanted to be in the film. Jean-Louis Trintignant was brilliant as the Examining Magistrate, who doesn't give away his decision on whether or not to carry on with the case. He's under a great deal of pressure not to prosecute the police, who stood by and let the violence happen. You really don't know what he's going to do until the last minute. The commentary at the end of the film is sad indeed, as we see that there was just no fighting the power of the state.
The murder did make a difference, at least briefly, as far as the government of Greece.
A very impressive film, with some marvelous acting, that has an important message.