Z

Synopsis: In a mid-sized metropolis (population 500,000) in a right-wing military led country, a pacifist organization, which supports the opposition party in the government, is planning on holding an anti-military, nuclear disarmament rally. The organization's charismatic leader - the deputy - is scheduled to arrive in the town from the capital the day of the rally. Beyond the problems arranging the rally due to the probable incitement of violence at such a rally, the organization learns of an unconfirmed report that there will be an attempt on the deputy's life. The rally does happen, after which a three-wheeled kamikaze runs over the deputy, who eventually passes away from his injuries. The official report is that the incident was a drunken accident. In reality, the deputy's death was murder orchestrated by the secret police, the general for who likens the pacifist organization to mildew killing off agricultural crops. A magistrate is assigned to the case. Although he does have political view
Genre: Crime, Drama, History
Director(s): Costa-Gavras
Production: Rialto Pictures
  Won 2 Oscars. Another 9 wins & 12 nominations.
 
IMDB:
8.2
Rotten Tomatoes:
93%
M/PG
Year:
1969
127 min
Website
1,049 Views


One can prevent mildew

by spraying with copper sulfate.

There are 2 classic solutions used,

one from Bordeaux,

the other from Burgundy.

Burgundy being a region in France

which is reputed for its wine.

Three sprayings a year are required.

The first when the shoots reach

two or three centimetres long,

the second just before or after

the flowering,

and the third a month later.

The treatment is preventative

and must not be neglected.

Gentlemen, I'll finish my speech

on mildew prevention.

I remind you

that as in previous years,

airplanes and flyers will be placed

at your disposal

to remind the farmers that mildew,

a disease that destroys vines,

appeared simultaneously

with that other ideological disease

which has devastated men.

But the Chief of Police

will develop this point.

Any similarity to actual persons

or events is deliberate

As the Under-secretary

of Agriculture said,

An ideological illness

is like mildew

and requires preventive measures.

Like mildew,

it is due

to septic germs

and various parasitic agents.

So the treatment of men

with appropriate solutions

is indispensable.

The 1st stage occurs

in the schools

where,

if you'll pardon the metaphor,

the sprouts are still very young.

The 2nd treatment

occurs when they begin to bloom

as college students

or young workers.

The draft is the best time

to spray and save the sacred

tree of national liberty

from the disease

of ideological mildew.

Air-dropped leaflets are telling

our peasants of a new kind

of ideological mildew

beginning to ravage our land.

This new variety

is spreading insidiously.

It's a sly enemy

pushing us away

from God and the Crown.

It's against this enemy

that our action is aimed.

Don't take notes!

It's all in our pamphlet.

With the outbreak of isms,

like socialism, anarchism,

imperialism or communism,

sunspots start to multiply

on the face of the golden orb.

God refuses to enlighten the Reds!

Scientists forecast

an increase in sunspots

due to the arrival of the beatniks

and pacifists from certain countries

such as ltaly,

France and Scandinavia!

As head of Law and Order

here in the north,

I wish to tell you,

who are high civil servants,

we must preserve

the healthy elements

of our society

and heal those that are ill.

Tonight the enemy's holding

a meeting on our city.

But we are not an ism!

We are a democracy!

We won't forbid the meeting.

Nor will we forbid

the opposition from demonstrating!

With these healthy anti-bodies,

we must fight all diseases

of both the vine

as well as Society!

That's all I have to say.

Bear it in mind

during the days to come!

- Having lunch?

- Rapidly!

I'll take you to your plane.

- Thank you!

- It's my pleasure!

Tell my wife

I'll pick her up this evening.

An excursion

for the Bolsho ballerinas!

From Moscow?

The Bolsho Ballet is here

for 4 days. They open tonight.

- Stay over! You can sit in my box.

- I must return to the capital.

Ah, the capital! The palace!

The Palace thinks well of you!

What if one of them

chose freedom here?

Like that famous dancer...

No, none of that!

For freedom they pick London

or the US where the money's stable!

We have enough hot-heads in town!

Enough problems!

Stop! Take that down!

No permit's needed

for a meeting indoors!

I don't want any trouble!

Get a permit to use the hall!

Do as I say!

Bring me your permit!

Or meet elsewhere!

Take it down!

How can we find

another hall now

and tell 3 or 4 thousand people

about it?

- It's a rally!

- You signed the receipt!

Now it's unsigned! Here's your check!

I'll pay you compensation!

You got threats!

I don't know what you mean!

You don't cancel a rental

unless you're pressured!

- You lawyers are...

- Bozini, you're an honest man.

Who's behind all this? Why?

I don't want you in my hall,

that's why!

If you don't like it, lump it!

There must be a reason!

My father died today! OK?

I'd gladly let you see it

but the city inspector came by.

When?

Yesterday.

The seats must be specially set.

We can set 'em up this afternoon.

No, fastened to the floor!

It'll take a week at least.

Since when!

We cancel or meet in the street!

And without a permit!

That'd mean instigators and cops!

We won't find a hall.

They'll all refuse!

I say we have to cancel it.

He'd never agree!

We cancel it

and go quietly off to bed

or better yet,

to the Bolsho opening!

And we take him there too?

And send his audience there?

- You got a hall?

- The Bolsho!

A plot on the doc's life!

- Says who?

- My wife.

Who told you? None of my business?

What'll we tell the police?

Don't hang up!

She won't say. The guy didn't know

the doctor's due today.

This is George Pirou.

You must tell us who...

Certainly not!

I trust him. He didn't know

about tonight's meeting.

He overheard a discussion.

He won't tell you. Me neither!

He's had enough trouble!

He has a family!

Now they know!

Now you know. So do something!

It's for you.

I know, darling. See you later!

What do we do?

Call the Red Cross!

Attorney-Gen.!

It's all quite vague.

An anonymous witness.

An overheard conversation!

Maybe it's a hoax or a chronic liar!

Like those who

phone there's a bomb in a plane...

Who'd want to kill your president?

Marie, open the door!

Shall we go?

I'll call the Head of Security.

He'll provide protection,

unofficially!

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Vasilis Vasilikos

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Submitted on August 05, 2018

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