In 1968 the world was exploding – millions of students and workers were on the march in every square of every city the world over – and one piece of shrapnel that rocketed out of those times was Costa Gavras’ ‘Z’.
His political thriller is just as searing hot today as it was then. As revolution was being threatened in Paris, and as Soviet tanks rolled over Prague’s cobblestoned streets, and while students were being massacred in Mexico City, in Greece democracy was being demolished and every sign of dissent there would be squashed beneath the bloody boots of military men.
The letter Z was the symbol used by all those people who were attacked during those seven years of junta rule during which Gravas’ film itself was also banned.
Screened to mark the 100th anniversary of Yves Montand’s birth. Filmmakers Paul Greengrass and Aki Kaurismäki listed the film in their top 10 films of all time. Cast includes Jean-Louis Trintignant, Yves Montand, Irene Papas and Jacques Perrin.
