Z

Name: Z
Genre: Drama, History, Thriller, Crime
Released: December 8, 1969
Duration: 127 min
Rating: 86
Cast: Bernard Fresson, Charles Denner, François Périer, Georges Géret, Irene Papas

1969

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 19 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 14 Ratings

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7.4

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7.4	Your Score
7.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 14 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Valoria Films | Release Date: December 8, 1969 | M/PG

Starring: Bernard Fresson, Charles Denner, François Périer, Georges Géret, Irene Papas, Jacques Perrin, Jean-Louis Trintignant, Marcel Bozzuffi, Pierre Dux, Yves Montand

Summary: Following the murder of a prominent leftist, an investigator tries to uncover the truth while government officials attempt to cover up their roles.

Director: Costa-Gavras

Genre(s): Drama, History, Thriller, Crime

Rating: M/PG

Runtime: 127 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Michael Wilmington

A '60s landmark. [31 Oct 2003, p.C6]

100

Chris Nashawaty

A pulse-pounding procedural that pieces together the murder of a left-wing youth leader (Yves Montand). A baroque government cover-up is foiled by a tenacious inspector (Jean-?Louis Trintignant) whose rat-a-tat interrogations are like machine-gun fire. This is an amazing film. Read full review

100

Roger Ebert

It is a film of our time. It is about how even moral victories are corrupted. It will make you weep and will make you angry. It will tear your guts out. Read full review

Ty Burr

Hollywood political thrillers have absorbed this movie's you-are-there filmmaking grammar. Rarely have they re-created its fire. Read full review

Marc Mohan

Avoiding the hyperbole and condescension that sometimes make it easy for ideological foes to dismiss the likes of Oliver Stone or Michael Moore, Costa-Gavras relies on the sterling performances of his actors (including Irene Papas as Montand's widow), and was rewarded with a pair of Oscar nominations. Read full review

Nicolas Rapold

The film’s state of play is still less exciting than its famous ancestor (Battle of Algiers) and offspring (The French Connection), but the military junta that ensued in Greece gave the film (shot in Algeria) a sense of urgency approved by Cannes and Oscar alike. Read full review

Dave Kehr

Z doesn't communicate anything—except for the doubtful propositions that pacifists are more threatening to right-wingers than communists and that fascist terrorism and homosexuality go hand in hand. Read full review

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User Reviews

Nicolas2002

Nov 20, 2020

This movie is certainly the best of Costa-Gravas. It has a political content which is well used and well described. It has an anti-facists message and the characters are well developed.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

gracjanski

Mar 13, 2022

The problem of the movie is: it is from the 70s, so many things are looking so cheap. The story is interesting though.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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