In today's world, many ponder what might have transpired had Donald Trump not moved his head during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, a few months prior. One potential answer may be found in Costa-Gavras's 1969 film, Z, a dramatic reconstruction of a historical event bearing unsettling similarities. Renowned for its box office success and Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, Z is often regarded as a classic of political cinema.
The actual event occurred on May 22, 1963, in Thessaloniki, Greece. Grigoris Lambrakis, a prominent left-wing member of the Hellenic Parliament known for his pacifist efforts, held a rally. Shortly after delivering his speech, Lambrakis was struck in the head with a club by two right-wing extremists in front of thousands of witnesses and police officers. He died a few days later, but authorities initially attempted to dismiss the incident as an accident. However, investigative magistrate Christos Sartzetakis (who would decades later become President of Greece) soon discovered that the attack was deliberate and that the assailants had deep connections with the police and Gendarmerie, including high-ranking officers who were eventually charged. The results of the investigation were nullified in 1967 after a coup established a right-wing military dictatorship in Greece.
These events formed the basis for Z, a 1967 roman à clef by Greek writer Vassilis Vassilikos. Like many involved in the film's production, Vassilikos was exiled by the military regime. Gavras, who had grown up in Greece before studying cinema in France, was drawn to the novel. He and Spanish writer Jorge Semprun adapted it into a screenplay, striving for accuracy to the actual events. Gavras and Semprun declared their intentions with an opening title stating that "any similarity to real persons and events is intentional"+.
The plot unfolds in an unnamed Mediterranean country, an obvious stand-in for Greece. A popular opposition leader—the film's equivalent of Lambrakis, known as "the Deputy" and portrayed by Yves Montand—plans to hold a peace rally in a major city, much to the dismay of the local Military Police general (based on General Konstantin Mitsou, played by Pierre Dux). The Deputy and his associates find that their rented venues are unavailable, forcing them to hold the rally in the open, making the Deputy more vulnerable. The Deputy is attacked and dies from his injuries. A police investigation initially points to two petty thugs, Vago (played by Marcel Bozzuffi) and Yago (played by Renato Salvatori), who attempt to hide, bribe, or intimidate witnesses Nick (played by Georges Géret), one of their associates, is attacked to prevent his testimony, but the attempt backfires when Nick meets a photojournalist (played by Jacques Perrin) in the hospital who wants to publish his sensational story. The testimony and other details reach the Investigating Magistrate (based on Martzetakis, played by Jean-Louis Trintignant) who, despite pressure from his superior (played by François Périer) to close the case, uncovers a network of local right-wing extremists motivated by ideology, money, or violence, who carried out the attack on the opposition politician.
Z marked a turning point in Gavras's career, being his first explicitly political film. Gavras wore his left-wing political beliefs on his sleeve, as did his screenwriter Jorge Semprun. The film was highly relevant during its premiere, as Greece was still under dictatorship. Composer Mikis Theodorakis, who created the soundtrack, and actress Irene Papas, who played the Deputy’s wife, were both forced into exile. Z aimed to remind audiences that Greece, despite being considered the cradle of democracy and a NATO member, was under an oppressive regime akin to the West's communist adversaries.
The events of May 1963 mirrored another assassination that occurred six months later, deeply traumatizing an entire generation. The killing of a charismatic politician popular among the youth, the subsequent cover-up, and the assassins' connections to security services resonated strongly, especially after the unresolved murders of Malcolm X, RFK, and Martin Luther King, followed by wars, riots, and repression. Z effectively portrays the film's villains, particularly the comically over-the-top General, opposing the Deputy not because of his liberal or left-wing views, but because of his popularity among the youth and his indirect endorsement of their rebellion against tradition. This hostility is evident in tirades against miniskirts, sexual freedom, and rock music, as well as in a scene where police officers forcibly cut the long hair of youthful protestors during a riot. Z effectively addressed the concerns and fears of the Baby Boomer generation.
Reflecting the sentiment of the late 1960s, Z is pessimistic, responding to the ongoing Vietnam War and the perceived failures of the 1968 global protests. Deputy/Lambrakis becomes a martyr, his killers are brought to justice, but a coup follows, suppressing freedoms, banning authors, books, activities, and even the letter "Z," as shown in the film's finale. Gavras cautioned the audience that the events in Greece could be replicated elsewhere.
Even without its political context, Z is a well-structured and effective film. It begins as a suspense thriller, depicting the protagonist's difficult choices regarding risking his and his supporters’ well-being in an increasingly hostile environment. It then evolves into a murder mystery, with the new protagonist, played with precision by Jean-Louis Trintignant. Gavras's direction is skillful, employing effective flashbacks and action scenes, such as the assassination attempt on the Deputy's associate, played by Charles Denner. Semi-comical scenes, like Nick's arguments with his family about his risky testimony, add depth and realism. Despite its limited budget, producer Jacques Perrin made excellent use of Algerian locations to represent Greece and showcased local acting talent.
The acting in Z is outstanding, although Montand and Trintignant are overshadowed by the supporting cast, particularly the villains. Marcel Bozzuffi is compelling as a petty, loathsome, and unapologetic thug who is also portrayed as gay, aligning with late 1960s and 1970s left-wing cinema tropes that linked fascism with homosexuality. Bozzuffi's performance led to his casting as a killer in William Friedkin's The French Connection.
Arguably the best of Gavras's films, Z set a high standard for political thrillers and docudramas. It inspired filmmakers like Oliver Stone, whose JFK, while addressing a different event and employing a different style, can be seen as a spiritual remake of Gavras’s film.
RATING: 8/10 (+++)
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