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Z (1969) [The Criterion Collection #491] [Re-UP]

Posted By: Someonelse
Z (1969) [The Criterion Collection #491] [Re-UP]

Z (1969)
DVD9 | VIDEO_TS | NTSC 16:9 | Covers (3 JPGs) | 02:07:07 | 8,13 Gb
Audio: French AC3 1.0 @ 192 Kbps + English Commentary track | Subs: English
Genre: Crime, Drama | Criterion Collection #491

Director: Costa-Gavras
Stars: Yves Montand, Irene Papas, Jean-Louis Trintignant

A pulse-pounding political thriller, Greek expatriate director Costa-Gavras’s Z was one of the cinematic sensations of the late sixties, and remains among the most vital dispatches from that hallowed era of filmmaking. This Academy Award winner—loosely based on the 1963 assassination of Greek left-wing activist Gregoris Lambrakis - stars Yves Montand as a 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 magistrate who’s determined not to let them get away with it. Featuring kinetic, rhythmic editing, Raoul Coutard’s expressive vérité photography, and Mikis Theodorakis’s unforgettable, propulsive score, Z is a technically audacious and emotionally gripping masterpiece.

Director Costa-Gavras used actual trial transcripts of the investigation into the May 22, 1963, assassination of Greek pacifist leader Gregoris Lambrakis, which proved a government conspiracy in his death. Yves Montand gives the best dramatic performance of his life, and Irene Papas stars as his wife, Helena. Z won the Oscar for Best Foreign Film of 1969, was 14th in terms of box-office success, and hit an international nerve in the age of social unrest, government cover-up, and political assassinations. All those involved worked on the film for a reduced rate with an option for royalties based on earnings at the theater window. The letter Z in the Greek alphabet means "he is alive."



Z (1969) [The Criterion Collection #491] [Re-UP]

Turning the events preceding the 1960s military junta in Greece into a kinetic political thriller, Costa-Gavras' Z (1969) is a cinematically compelling argument against state repression. In a story based on the assassination of pacifist Gregoris Lambrakis, Greek expatriate Costa-Gavras' French New Wave techniques create visual energy and documentary immediacy while humanizing the Lambrakis analogue (Yves Montand) and his wife (Irene Papas). Cinematographer Raoul Coutard's moving camera and location shooting pump up suspense as key witnesses are pursued by mysterious thugs; newsreel-style crowd scenes become threateningly chaotic, emphasizing the government's collusion in the assassination. The couple's flash-cut memories of their married life emphasize the personal loss inflicted in the name of "democracy." Despite the film's basis in fact, Costa-Gavras neither identifies the country nor gives names to the main characters, turning the story into a universal warning against the rise of totalitarianism. An international hit (though banned in Greece), and all the more relevant amid late-'60s cultural upheavals in the U.S. and France, Z won awards as Best Film of the Year from both the National and New York film critics groups and became the first film nominated for Oscars as both Best Picture and Best Foreign-Language Film. It won the latter, along with Best Editing.
Lucia Bozzola, Rovi
Z (1969) [The Criterion Collection #491] [Re-UP]

The film '' Z '' is based upon the same-titled book written by Vassilikos and referring to a real-life event: the assassination of one of the most honorable Greek politicians ( his real name was Grigoris Lambrakis ), who sacrificed his life in the name of peace and human dignity. Costas Gavras did his best to present the prevailing atmosphere and the political situation in Greece ( although Greece is at no point straightly mentioned, but implied ) during May of the year 1963, which is the year when the real events took place. Choosing an adventurous, thrilling or hilarious style according to the facts and scenes presenting at each part of the story, he made an '' all time interesting and provocative '' film. Great acting was also put in by everybody and particularly by Jean-Louis Trintignant, who was great as the Examining Magistrate. As long as the script is concerned, the plot builds up very satisfactorily and carefully, thus not leaving any holes. Great respect should also be paid to Mikis Theodorakis who wrote the original score for the movie, helping it gain the marvelous rythm it retained right until the very end of it. As a concluding remark I would like to mention that anybody who's interested in late Greek history ( from post World War II era to date ) should watch it carefully. The whole result is very rewarding.
IMDB Reviewer
Z (1969) [The Criterion Collection #491] [Re-UP]

They don’t make films like Costa-Gavras’ Z anymore, and that is both a good and bad thing. It is good because the film offers a brutal indictment of military-run government corruption in Greece during the 1960s - the Western world is mercifully free of junta leadership, thus eliminating the need to denounce such regimes on film.

Z (1969) [The Criterion Collection #491] [Re-UP]

But viewed today, 40 years after its release, Z provides a significant reminder of the power of cinema to challenge the political status quo. Based on the Vassilis Vassilikos novel that was inspired by the 1963 assassination of left-wing Greek politician Gregoris Lambrakis, the film is boldly unapologetic in its depiction of government corruption and intimidation. The film presents the Greek military leaders as hysterical than anything vaguely left of center is a Communist plot that needs to be stamped out, and the cover-up of the government-sponsored assassination (which is exposed by a crusading prosecutor and a tenacious reporter) is an intricate tangle of conspiracies that reveal the contempt which the military has for the people it is supposedly defending.

Z (1969) [The Criterion Collection #491] [Re-UP]

Yves Montand as the slain political leader and Irene Papas as his wife are the nominal stars, but the real energy comes from Jean-Louis Trintigant as the humorless prosecutor who doggedly pursues the truth - even though his effort eventually bring about the 1967 coup that effectively shut down Greek democracy for seven years. And equal star billing goes behind the camera to Mikis Theodorakis for his innovative music score, Raoul Coutard’s documentary-style cinematography, and Françoise Bonnot’s Oscar-winning editing. Z also won the Best Foreign-Language Film Oscar (it was entered by Algeria - the film was shot there, as junta-controlled Greece was obviously not going to accommodate this production).

Z should be required viewing for any lover of political thrillers. Four decades later, it still packs a wallop.
Phil Hall, "The History of Independent Cinema"
Z (1969) [The Criterion Collection #491] [Re-UP]

Disc Features
- New, restored high-definition digital transfer, supervised and approved by cinematographer Raoul Coutard
- Audio commentary featuring film historian Peter Cowie
- New interviews with Costa-Gavras (19:32) and Coutard (10:38) - both 16X9
- Archival interviews with Costa-Gavras; producer-actor Jacques Perrin; actors Pierre Dux (3:48 4:3); Yves Montand, Irène Papas, and Jean-Louis Trintignant (5:06 4:3); and Vassilis Vassilikos (9:36 - 4:3), author of the book Z
- Theatrical trailer
- New and improved English subtitle translation

All Credits goes to Original uploader.

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