Z

Z (1969)

Runtime: 127 minutes

Directed by: Costa-Gavras

Starring: Jean-Louis Trintignant, Jacques Perrin, Raoul Coutard, Irene Papas, Yves Montand

From: Several production companies in France and... Algeria

As I close out this March Around the World in 2022, I went with a movie highly rated by many and in fact was a winer at the Academy Awards for Best Foreign Film in 1969 as Algeria's submission. Turns out, this movie was even better than expected and deserves a rare 5 stars from me. One reason is that this was so personal for Greek director Costa-Gavras. Starting in '67 and lasting until '74, there was a right-wing military junta that ruled his country. They overthrew the democracy and were restrictive A-holes; the director was NOT happy with this junta so the movie is a thinly-veiled attack against such governments. In fact, what other movie even comes close to saying something like, “Any resemblance to actual events, to persons living or dead, is not the result of chance. It is DELIBERATE” then the director signs his name to the statement?

He personally felt that strongly despite any possible repercussions in his home country. I'm sure he did not appreciate how artists such as composer Mikis Theodorakis were placed under house arrest; it was poignant then that that the director chose previous works from Theodorakis as a score for Z. An affirmation against tyranny is far from the only reason why this is a classic. It basically tells the story of how prominent anti-war Greek activist Grigoris Lambrakis was assassinated then the government covered up the truth. In fact, Z stands for Zi, a Greek phrase meaning “He Lives” that was popular anti-government graffiti in the 60's. As there are still oppressive, totalitarian governments all across the world now-not just one that's become hated by everyone else since late February-the movie has not lost any relevancy since it was released.

While not a happy heartwarming tale, it is still an important one to learn and explains how a government can cover up a murder of a popular dissenter. As long as you don't become loony and start believing the craziest of conspiracy theories... it'd be a crime to reveal much more but those that enjoy political thrillers of the past must check this out.