The main representation of the Political Film is this Z, set in Greece at the time governed by a military dictatorship presided by Colonels. It contains thrills, a hard investigation, suspense and real events .It concerns the assassination of a Greek leader in the Sixties and its aftermath. As a politician is hitten on the head, as he dies by brain injures. This politician leader murdered by a hit on his head was based on a real character. Being well portrayed by the famous political filmmaker as a suspenseful detective thriller. Here an investigator : Jean Louis Trintignant uncovers a network of government and police corruption. Being based on facts surrounding 1965 Lambrakis affair in Thessalonika and in which the investigation of the accidental death of a professor ending into a criminal conspiracy. As Lambrakis was assassinated on May 22, 1963 when was attacked and struck on the head in similar manner as it happened at the movie . Following a military junta in 1967 led by right-wing generals who carried out a state of siege, banning protests, strikes, political parties, free press , and other public liberties , as they seized the total control of the Greek democracy.
Crowd-pleasing left-wing political thriller with intriguing and moving events . The recreation of the murder and its subsecuent investigation uses the techniques of a typical American thriller to gripping effect .However, the films about twisted political conspiracies are so commonplace today that it is difficult to imagine the impact it made at the past time. It was was filmed in Algeria due to the prohibition to shot in Greece by the military Junta. Including a provoking and interesting script by the Spanish novelist Jorge Semprun. The picture displays a top-notch main and secondary cast, such as : Jean Louis Trintignant as the tough Instructor who investigates the twisted happenings, Yves Montand as the killed politician, Francois Perier, Jacques Perrin, Irene Papas, Charles Denner, Georges Geret , Renato Salvatori, Jean Bouise, Bernard Fresson, and many others. The letter Z meaning "He is alive" in the ancient Greek language, it became a common piece of protest in Greece, then the Junta prohibited the use of letter Z as graffiti on the walls . The junta that previously executed a coup d'etat collapsed in 1974, after the Turkey encroachment on Cyprus, around half island, and was then democracy restored to Greece until nowadays .
It contains an evocative and adequate musical score by Mikis Theodorakis, including Greek sounds. The motion picture was splendidly directed by Constantine Costa-Gavras in his usual style. Gavras is a good director who has made thoughtful and provoking films, such as : The sleeping car murder, The confession, State of siege, Special section, Missing , Hanna K, Conseil de Famille, Betrayed, Music box, Lumiere and compagnie, Against oblivion, Mad city, Amen, The axe, among others. Rating 7.5/10. Above average. Worthwhile seeing. Essential and indispensable seeing.
Crowd-pleasing left-wing political thriller with intriguing and moving events . The recreation of the murder and its subsecuent investigation uses the techniques of a typical American thriller to gripping effect .However, the films about twisted political conspiracies are so commonplace today that it is difficult to imagine the impact it made at the past time. It was was filmed in Algeria due to the prohibition to shot in Greece by the military Junta. Including a provoking and interesting script by the Spanish novelist Jorge Semprun. The picture displays a top-notch main and secondary cast, such as : Jean Louis Trintignant as the tough Instructor who investigates the twisted happenings, Yves Montand as the killed politician, Francois Perier, Jacques Perrin, Irene Papas, Charles Denner, Georges Geret , Renato Salvatori, Jean Bouise, Bernard Fresson, and many others. The letter Z meaning "He is alive" in the ancient Greek language, it became a common piece of protest in Greece, then the Junta prohibited the use of letter Z as graffiti on the walls . The junta that previously executed a coup d'etat collapsed in 1974, after the Turkey encroachment on Cyprus, around half island, and was then democracy restored to Greece until nowadays .
It contains an evocative and adequate musical score by Mikis Theodorakis, including Greek sounds. The motion picture was splendidly directed by Constantine Costa-Gavras in his usual style. Gavras is a good director who has made thoughtful and provoking films, such as : The sleeping car murder, The confession, State of siege, Special section, Missing , Hanna K, Conseil de Famille, Betrayed, Music box, Lumiere and compagnie, Against oblivion, Mad city, Amen, The axe, among others. Rating 7.5/10. Above average. Worthwhile seeing. Essential and indispensable seeing.