Review of Z (1969) by Jonathan B — 21 Feb 2010

This tense French set allegory for the right wing military coup in Greece is superbly crafted by Costa-Gavras, who manages to tell the story of several characters without making the film feel too dense or hurried.

While the first half of the movie deals with the attack and murder of a Left Wing politician after a rally, it is the second half of the film that focuses on the investigation by an impartial police officer and the subsequent military coverup that has the most to offer.

I did think the ending was a little rushed and the final result of a right wing dictatorship in a country like France (where protesters bring the nation to a violent halt over dairy subsidies and raising the 30 hour work week) seemed a bit far fetched.

That said, this is a well crafted movie with a lot of politically charged (and divisive) messages that deserves a viewing.