Z [DVD]

This film should be classified as propaganda, not drama. The author and the director apparently have no interest in portraying the actual historical event on which the movie pretends to be based (the 1963 murder of Gregoris Lambrakis), despite their claim at the beginning of the movie that "any resemblance to actual people or events is deliberate." As it turns out, any resemblance to real people anywhere is purely coincidental.Although the film loosely follows the events of the Lambrakis killing, the heavy political bias destroys the historical validity of the work and reduces it to the level of a soap opera. Character development is totally one sided: the leftists are all portrayed as intelligent, gentle, understanding, kind, compassionate, and wise. They wear suits and ties, and they act like diplomats and saints.The government and the police, however, are universally portrayed as thugs, liars, and brutes. They are crude, uneducated, stupid, cruel, conspiratorial, selfish, uncaring, and savagely violent. They dress badly and have trouble making their monthly car payments.In real life, people are not so monochromatic--there is less black and white in the world and a lot more gray. It's hard to care much about anybody in this film--with the exception of Jean-Louis Trintignan who plays the judge and actually changes his mind as the investigation progresses, the people who come and go in this make-believe world seem more like caricatures than characters. They never step outside their one-dimensional, stereotypical roles for a second. Filmmakers who explore the complexity of people and their relationships often make great films; directors like Costas-Gravis who can't see the gray often fall far short of that mark.Unfortunately, in addition to its many other faults, this movie isn't particularly well executed. The outcome is totally predictable, even if we didn't already know the story. The editing is choppy and uneven and the plot proceeds at a glacial pace for most of the film. In fact, the movie is nearly a thrid over before the audience even gets a hint of where the plot is going. When Lambrakis is eventually attacked, the audience feels relieved--finally, something has happened!Hollywood, of course, loves left-leaning tear-jerker movies, so winning the 1969 Oscar for Best Foreign Film was a no-brainer. Still, I'm astounded at the number of Five Star reviews on Amazon that say, in essence, "I was in Greece, and this movie isn't accurate." Then why the good rating? I can only assume that they were grading the film for its value as propaganda rather than art.

This movie is a must-see. Costa-Gravas made a habit of exposing the United States' predilection for right-wing dictatorships over left-leaning democracies. The subtitles are intentional.

This is a fictionalization of actual events at the peak of Cold War and major upheavals around the globe. It is intense and so realistic. I enjoy this directors work.

This excellent movie has aged well. Although the subject matter of the protests is no longer relevant, the dictatorial, absolutist, wrongheaded, but ultimately effectual government is now too often replicated around the world. "Z" has again become relevant, particularly after the election, because hundreds of thousands of protesters are conducting protests without police suppression. I realize that this is not Greece, but movies like Z do make a difference and do make their way into the collective national consciousness.

Based on the real-life murder of populist Greek liberal Gregorios Lambrakis in 1963, this incendiary political thriller epitomizes the idea of a "cinema of resistance". It is also a compelling story, with Montand delivering a brief but intense performance as the assassinated pacifist, and Trintignant providing an emotional jolt as the puppet judge who surprises everyone by indicting high-level officials. Costa-Gavras keeps our pulse pumping with shotgun pacing, punchy edits, and sudden turns of events. "Z," which means "He is alive" in ancient Greek, won the Oscar for Best Foreign Film, and remains timely in today's world of lapsed ethics.

This is a movie in French about events in Greece involving a repressive government and an opposition candidate who was a former Olympic champion and physician who comes to s city for a campaign appearance, and is attacked and mudered by thugs, with the complicity of the authorities. An independent prosecutor is appointed, and turns out to be honest and independent, to the horror of the generals!

This tells the story of the military coup and grease when the Greeks had the temerity to elect someone we did not like. It was done by Costa'Gravas who has done many other political dramas Of which missing with Jack Lemmon and Sissy Spacek is most famous in the United States this was his first film and really is a sucker punched at the got if you think that There is hope at the end of the film. Certainly not applicable to the 21st-century but Guariglia entertaining and one of the best films of all time

Excellent film. After the last four years, this movie is more impactful than ever. Authoritarian dictatorships can emerge in any democracy.

I purchased the film for viewing - if cxxourse - but cannot as there is no English whatsoever.Your advice pleaseNevile Robinson

This DVD does not have English subtitles! Not mentioned in the product description.

One of the most important films ever made about Greece

Uno de los mejores films de Costa Gavras. Dialogos sin desperdicio. Políticamente correcta basada en un caso real en la Grecia de los coroneles.

La història sobre el cop d'estat de Grècia