Z (1969) movie poster

Z

1969 · 122 min · Director: Costa-Gavras

Z (1969) is a thriller drama, directed by Costa-Gavras. It stars Yves Montand and Irene Papas. The 122-minute film holds an audience score of 7.8/10.

What Z Is About

An opposition deputy is attacked in the street after a rally by men who get out of a small truck, and dies. The official line is a traffic accident. The examining magistrate assigned to the case will not close it, and witness by witness he traces the killing up to senior officers. Then politics steps in. Costa-Gavras directed, from Vassilis Vassilikos's 1967 novel. What it describes is real: the killing of the Greek politician Grigoris Lambrakis in 1963 and the military junta that followed. Jean-Louis Trintignant plays the magistrate, with Yves Montand and Irene Papas in the cast. Jacques Perrin, who plays the photojournalist, also produced. Roger Ebert named it the best film of 1969, praising its ability to be at once a political cry of rage and a brilliant suspense thriller. It took 17.3 million dollars in the United States, among the highest for a non-English language film at the time. It won Oscars for Best Foreign Language Film and Best Film Editing, and became only the second foreign-language film nominated for Best Picture, after Grand Illusion. It influenced directors including Oliver Stone, Steven Soderbergh and William Friedkin. Who it is for: viewers who like political thrillers and investigation narratives. Who it is not for: anyone looking for hope. The film does not end when the crime is solved; it ends with how the solution is buried.

How did this film move you?

Trailer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Z about?

An opposition deputy is attacked in the street after a rally by men who get out of a small truck, and dies. The official line is a traffic accident.

Where can I watch Z?

Z is available to watch on digital platforms such as Criterion Channel, HBO Max, Apple TV Store. Current rent and buy options are listed in the "Where to Watch" section on this page.

How long is Z?

Z runs for 122 minutes (2h 2m).

When did Z come out?

Z was released in 1969.

Who directed Z?

Z was directed by Costa-Gavras.

Who stars in Z?

Z stars Yves Montand, Irene Papas, Jean-Louis Trintignant, Jacques Perrin.

What is Z's rating?

Z holds 8.1/10 on IMDb and 7.8/10 on TMDB. Its Pulse Score is 84 out of 100.

Featured in These Lists

Murder & True Crime Dramas

Member Reviews (0)

Loading…

From the Same Director

Films Similar to Z

Sunday Drama Once a week: an editor’s pick + 3 similar gems. No spam.