Review of Z (1969) by Brian R — 11 Aug 2010

Based on the 1966 novel of the same name by Vassilis Vassilikos. The film presents a thinly fictionalized account of the events surrounding the assassination of democratic Greek politician Gregoris Lambrakis in 1963.

A rally occurs, a Deputy(Yves Montand) makes a speech, protesters shout in anger, a blue truck runs over the deputy as he tries to cross the street. Was it an accident? or a attempted murder?

The plot goes into deep territory as the filmmaker Gavras wants me to understand that the assassination of a political figure was a planned attempt as police tried to make the situation look more like a cover up.

Z reminds me of films like "JFK", "The Contender", and "Rashomon". The story is told in a fractured non linear way(sometimes confusing) to let the viewer understand that coverups are usually fractured and confusing since people don't want the public to understand what really happened.

My fav character is probably the Photojournalist played by Jacques Perrin, who acts like an undercover rogue agent and digs deep to find the culprits responsible for the murder of the Deputy. Other great roles come from Irene Papas as the Deputy's wife after hearing the truth from an official looks saddned and lost with pain or grief(probably due to the constrants in their marriage) Renato Salvatori as Yago(involved in the assassination) and Julien Guiomar as The Colonel.

Some say Z is a dated film. I don't belive it is because Gavras film has a strong message to say in the corruption of Politics and dirty scandals. It's also noticeable that this film was banned as well as the other names credited in the film, even filmmaker Costa Gavras was banned from Greece. The code name Z takes refrences to the assination of the Deputy meaning "HE LIVES" and so does Gavras.