4/5 "Z" HITS HARD AT FASCIST POLITICS IN OUR WORLD TODAY
  by Robin Simmons (Palm Springs area, CA United States)

Ex-patriot Greek filmmaker Costa-Gavras's observant, rousing, docudrama still punches a prescient jolt nearly 40 years after it's initial release. This is arguably the best of all political thrillers. It won the 1970 Oscar© for Best Foreign Film.

Issues of free speech and fascist-like crackdowns on any forms of democracy still live in our recent memory. One only has to recall Iran's recent faux elections and the resulting street demonstrations, carried worldwide on social networking sites and on TV.

The verisimilitude and raw emotional power of this film is perfectly underscored by Coutard's ("Pierrot le Fou") extraordinary on-the-fly cinematography as well as the famous score by Mikis Theodorakis, now firmly embedded in our collective pop-culture consciousness. (When you hear it you will probably say, "Oh, I never knew that came from this movie?")

Irene Pappas's controlled passion roots the film's core theme with great dignity and further reminds, no doubt intentionally, of Jackie Kennedy's grace after the assassination of her husband.

This epic of democratic disillusion is in fact a searing autopsy of the human condition and it is based not so loosely on real events in Greece from the early `60s.

The story hangs on the investigation of the assassination of a left-wing Greek politician (Yves Montand), and his government's attempts to cover up the circumstances.

Montand, about to give a speech condemning the government, receives death threats. He is literally run down in front many eye-witnesses. This prominent politician and doctor, whose public murder amid a violent demonstration, is covered-up by military and government officials. Jean-Louis Trintignant is the tenacious judge assigned to the investigation. He gradually discovers just how far the state will go to rid itself of any opposition. He is warned by his superiors and removed from the case. But he remains determined to discover the truth of the events no matter where it leads.

Famous for it's kinetic editing and propulsive score, this technically accomplished film from a violent, tumultuous decade remains a powerful, relevant and gripping masterpiece.

Generous and watchable extras include:

An audio commentary by Peter Cowie points out that while not naming names, the screenplay is a scathing commentary of the then-government of Greece.

"It's Intentional: Costa-Gavras on Z" is a new interview made exclusively for this DVD. C-G again confirms his filmmaking as activism. He talks about discovering cinema in Paris as a young man and mentions the origins of "Z."

In "Raoul Coutard Shoots Z," the cinematographer talks about his impressions of Costa-Gavras and his working methods in comparison with Jean-Luc Godard.

More interviews include Costa-Gavras, Yves Montand, Irene Papas, Jacques Perrin, and Jean-Louis Trintignant. Gavras explains the meaning of the film's title.

Finally, there is a visceral trailer that is dynamically edited with excerpts of the film's pulsating score.

This still potent film reminds of the pervasive effects of corruption and courage. Sometimes it's hard to choose the latter when you live with the former. (Not rated, widescreen, 127 minutes)

5/5 Criterion Upgrade the way to Go!
  by Cubist (United States)
There is an audio commentary by film historian Peter Cowie. He points out that while not naming names, the screenplay for Z is a scathing commentary of the then-government of Greece, Costa-Gavras home country. Cowie talks about Z's place within the context of political cinema in the 1960s. He also talks briefly about the Greek history that informed the events depicted in Gavras' film. Cowie does a good job of giving brief bios of key cast members and how they got involved with Z. This is a very informative track with in-depth analysis.

"It's Intentional: Costa-Gavras on Z" is a brand new interview with filmmaker made exclusively for this DVD. He views filmmaking as a form of activism and with Z he wanted to comment on post-World War II Greece. He talks about going to Paris to study as a young man and while there discovering cinema. He also touches upon the origins of Z.

"Raoul Coutard Shoots Z" is an interview with the film's cinematographer who talks about how he came to work on the film and his impressions of Gavras' working methods in comparison with someone like Jean-Luc Godard. He praises the cast, especially Yves Montand's professionalism.

Author Vassilis Vassilikos talks about his book on which the film was based on. He also speaks at length about the assassination.

Gavras and actors Yves Montand, Irene Papas, Jacques Perrin, and Jean-Louis Trintignant talk about the film. The actors speak about drew them to the film.

In another interview, Gavras Perrin and Pierre Dux talk briefly about making the film. Gavras explains the meaning of the film's title.

Finally, there is a trailer that is dynamically edited with excerpts of the film's pulsating soundtrack.

5/5 Arguably the best political film ever made, and Costa-Gavras's best film...
  by Grigory's Girl (NYC)
Z is one of the best political films ever made, and in fact, may be the best political film ever made. It is the best film Costa-Gavras ever made, and while he's made some excellent films since (most notably Missing and State of Siege), this one tops them all.

While most political films date immediately and become time capsules, Z avoids this trap. The film makes no bones about where its sympathies lie. The opening credits say that "any resemblance to persons living or dead isn't coincidental. It is intentional". Yves Montland is definitely a left wing politician. The generals are right wing. But Costa-Gavras wisely concentrates on the actual story and the detective work of the magistrate. He doesn't go into didatic, long winded political propaganda here. The film unfolds meticulously as a investigation would. The magistrate keeps going deeper and deeper into the case without a political axe to grind, which makes the conclusion of the film all the more devastating.

The acting is first rate. Yves Montland as the deputy gives the character an innate sense of dignity. There are many famous French actors here, including Jacques Perrin (an occasional actor and famous producer), Irene Papas (who hardly says any dialogue but says so much with those eyes), Charles Denner (who was in Truffault's The Man Who Loved Women), Francois Perier (who was in Melville's Le Samourai), Marcel Bouzzuffi (who played one of most memorable bad guys in The French Connection), Bernard Fresson (who was in Polanski's underrated The Tenant and in the unjustly forgotten about French Connection II), and the great Renato Salvatori, who was so memorable in Visconti's Rocco and His Brothers. They are all superb here.

Gavras masters cinema here. The direction is taut, suspenseful, and there are some really great chase scenes here. The best one is where the deputy, Yves Montland, is "hit", and a passerby jumps on the assailants' truck. It is still nervewracking to watch today. The film is told a lot in flashback and through recollections by witnesses, and it is absolutely riveting. The flashback structure is not a gimmick; it is essential to the film. The editing in Z is superb. Raoul Contard's cinemtography has a really grainy look, and he also uses hand held cameras very effectively, enhancing the realism of the film. The score by Mikis Theodorakis is wonderful, one of the most memorable scores in movie history. Even the English dubbed version of the film was pretty damn good. You should still see the French version, but the English dub is pretty awesome for a dub job. Usually they're abominable.

Z is a masterful film, one that can be watched over and over again, and Gavras shows a complete mastery of cinematic technique here. It's one of the most memorable political films ever made, and it stands the test of time.





5/5 A murder coverup..???......They won't get away with it..!!
  by Seen Them All (SoCal Desert)
French language and subtitled in English.....this was cutting edge cinema when it was first released in the late 60's and it has not lost any of it's impact. A leftist activist is murdered during a demonstration and the prosecutor is not going to allow a cover up by the military. Filmed in a sort of pseudo-documentary style it is none the less riveting in its portrayal of events. Criterion is the best when it restores these masterpieces.

4/5 Great classic ppolitical film
  by Herman Schloss (Prescott Valley, AZ)
A classic about political corruption both before and after a political assassination. However, be careful about the quality of used VHS versions of this film