Loosely based on the 1963 assassination of Greek left-wing activist Gregoris Lambrakis, Costa-Gavras' Z is an intricate and pulse-pounding thriller that begins in the closing moments of a government meeting, where the leader of the security police of a right-wing military dominated government gives a passionate speech about fighting leftism and stopping the infiltration of them into the country. Meanwhile, a pacifist organization, which full-heartily supports the opposing party in the government, plans on holding an anti-military rally, with their leader arriving into town the day of the rally. When this charismatic leader is killed in an "accident", which feels an awful lot like a cover-up, the magistrate, played brilliantly by Jean-Louis Trintignant, begins digging deeper into the so-called drunk-driving accident, soon discovering a massive cover-up that reaches towards the very top. Costa-Gavras Z is a film that is both technically impressive and emotionally resonant, painting a somber portrait of the dangers and outrage associated with the military dictatorship that ruled Greece. The film is impressively constructed, having lots of moving parts but never feeling convoluted or confusing, as Costa-Gavras un-spools this complex story in a way that is clear and concise, considering the massive conspiracy and host of characters. Stylistically speaking, the film is even more impressive, using rhythmic editing and cinematography that is very much in this expressive verite style. The use of handheld photography is so imperative in creating this story, featuring crude camera movements and zooms that intentionally give the film a gritty, naturalistic feel which could be described as amateurish, almost as if Costa-Gavras was attempting to make the film look and feel like a documentary. The framing and compositions are also exquisite, with Costa-Gavras routinely filling the frame completely, stuffing the foreground and background in a way that ups the tension, giving Z a very claustrophobic feel at times. In the end, the film delivers a rather powerful and sobering finale, with nearly all the high-ranking government officials being essentially cleared of wrong-doing, a terrifying reminder of the corruption and untouchable nature men in high power can have. Costa-Gavras Z is a film that captures the danger of a government corruption and granting too much power to those who are supposed to enforce law and order, being a audacious film that captures how far people are willing to go in order to support their political beliefs.
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AuthorLove of all things cinema brought me here. Archives
June 2023
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