The public murder of a prominent politician and doctor amid a violent demonstration is covered up by military and government officials. A tenacious magistrate is determined not to let them get away with it.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- Won 2 Oscars. Another 10 wins & 13 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Yves Montand | ... |
Z
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| Irene Papas | ... |
Hélène
(as Irène Papas)
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| Jean-Louis Trintignant | ... |
Le juge d'instruction
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| François Périer | ... |
Le procureur
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| Jacques Perrin | ... |
Le photojournaliste
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| Charles Denner | ... |
Manuel
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| Pierre Dux | ... |
Le général de gendarmerie Missou
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| Georges Géret | ... |
Nick
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| Bernard Fresson | ... |
Matt
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| Marcel Bozzuffi | ... |
Vago
(as Marcel Bozzufi)
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| Julien Guiomar | ... |
Le colonel de gendarmerie
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| Magali Noël | ... |
La soeur de Nick
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| Renato Salvatori | ... |
Yago
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Habib Reda |
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| Clotilde Joano | ... |
Shoula
(as Clotilde Joanno)
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| Maurice Baquet | ... |
Le maçon héroïque
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Sid Ahmed Agoumi |
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Allel El Mouhib |
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Hassan El-Hassani | ... |
Le chauffeur du général
(as Hassan Hassani)
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| Gérard Darrieu | ... |
Barone
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| Jean Bouise | ... |
Georges Pirou
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Jean-Pierre Miquel | ... |
Pierre - un avocat
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| Van Doude | ... |
Le directeur de l'hôpital
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| Jean Dasté | ... |
Ilya Coste
(as Jean Daste)
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Jean-François Gobbi | ... |
Jimmy, le boxeur
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Guy Mairesse | ... |
Dumas dit le Russe
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| Andrée Tainsy | ... |
La mère de Nick
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Eva Simonet | ... |
Niki, la fille du procureur
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| François Chaumette | ... |
(voice)
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José Artur | ... |
Le rédacteur en chef du journal (uncredited)
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Nadine Barbier | ... |
Jeune fille achetant des figues (uncredited)
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| Raoul Coutard | ... |
Le chirurgien anglais (uncredited)
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Bob de Bragelonne | ... |
Le sous-secrétaire d'Etat (uncredited)
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Steve Gadler | ... |
Le photographe anglais (uncredited)
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Gabriel Jabbour | ... |
Bozzini (uncredited)
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Georges Rouquier | ... |
(uncredited)
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Directed by
| Costa-Gavras | ||
Written by
| Vassilis Vassilikos | ... | (novel) (as Vassili Vassilikos) |
| Jorge Semprún | ... | (dialogue) (as Jorge Semprun) |
| Costa-Gavras | ... | () (uncredited) |
| Ben Barzman | ... | () (uncredited) |
Produced by
| Philippe d'Argila | ... | associate producer |
| Jacques Perrin | ... | delegate producer |
| Ahmed Rachedi | ... | delegate producer |
| Eric Schlumberger | ... | associate producer |
Music by
| Mikis Theodorakis | ||
Cinematography by
| Raoul Coutard | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Françoise Bonnot | ||
Production Design by
| Jacques D'Ovidio | ||
Set Decoration by
| Jacques D'Ovidio | ||
Costume Design by
| Piet Bolscher | ... | (as Piet Bolsher) |
Production Management
| Mourad Bouchouchi | ... | production manager |
| Mohamed Ouled Moussa | ... | production manager |
| Hubert Mérial | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Ghaouti Bendedouche | ... | assistant director |
| Philippe Monnier | ... | assistant director |
Art Department
| Noureddine Hiahemzizou | ... | assistant set decorator (as Iahemzizou Nour Eddine) |
Sound Department
| Marie-Thérèse Boiché | ... | assistant sound editor |
| Michèle Boëhm | ... | sound editor |
| Sidi Boumedienne Dahmane | ... | sound engineer |
| Lionel de Souza | ... | sound recordist |
| Jean Nény | ... | sound engineer (as Jean Neny) |
| Alexandre Popovic | ... | sound recordist |
| Alex Pront | ... | sound engineer |
Stunts
| Yvan Chiffre | ... | stunt coordinator |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Jean Garcenot | ... | camera operator (as Jean Garcennot) |
| Taibi Lamouri | ... | camera operator |
| Georges Liron | ... | camera operator |
| Félix Le Garrec | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Bernard Gérard | ... | orchestrator |
| Tyler Selbrok | ... | musician (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Annie Maurel | ... | script girl |
Additional Crew
| Lionel de Souza | ... | stage manager |
| Alexandre Popovic | ... | stage manager |
| Jacques Monod | ... | dubbing voice: Le procureur général (uncredited) |
| William Sabatier | ... | dubbing voice: Yago (uncredited) |
Production Companies
- Valoria Films (presents)
- Reggane Films
- Office National pour le Commerce et l'Industrie Cinématographique (ONCIC)
- Polyphony Digital (presents)
Distributors
- Panta Cinematografica (1969) (Italy) (theatrical)
- Cinema V (1969) (United States) (theatrical)
- Cinerama Filmgesellschaft MBH (1969) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- Filmes Ocidente (1974) (Portugal) (theatrical)
- Janus Films (2009) (United States) (theatrical)
- Odeon (2008) (Greece) (theatrical) (re-issue)
- Rialto Pictures (2009) (United States) (theatrical) (re-release)
- Roadshow Films (1971) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (1969) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Triangel Produksjon A/S (1969) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Universal Film Agency (1969) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Valoria Films (1969) (France) (theatrical)
- Warner-Pathé Distributors (1969) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Alphaview Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
- American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1974) (United States) (tv)
- Arte Vidéo (2016) (France) (Blu-ray)
- Atlas Video (West Germany) (VHS)
- Chrystal Films (2005) (Canada) (DVD)
- Ciné+ (2022) (France) (tv)
- Columbia Pictures Home Entertainment (1980) (United States) (VHS)
- Filmjuwelen (2019) (Germany) (DVD)
- Filmjuwelen (2021) (Germany) (Blu-ray)
- Home Video Hellas (HVH) (1985) (Greece) (VHS)
- KinoVista (2007) (Russia) (tv)
- StudioCanal (2000) (France) (DVD)
- TF1 (1975) (France) (tv) (monochrome broadcast)
- TF1 (1985) (France) (tv)
- The Criterion Channel (2019) (United States) (tv) (digital)
- The Criterion Collection (2009) (United States) (DVD)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2010) (Australia) (DVD)
- Versátil Home Vídeo (Brazil) (DVD)
- Versátil Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
- Vértice 360 (Spain) (DVD)
- Wellspring Media (2002) (United States) (DVD)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Polyphony Digital (archive)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
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 views, he is more interested in finding out the truth, and as such has to wade through the political rhetoric and politically motivated testimony he hears. Thrown into the mix is a photojournalist who too is looking for the truth, as it, he believes, will make a great front page story. Written by Huggo |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Enough excitement to even eclipse James Bond See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | The actor playing the doctor got cold feet during his explanation of the X-rays of Z's cranium. A real doctor, acting as an extra, volunteered to fill in and finished the scene - his only acting performance on film. See more » |
| Goofs | After hitting Z, Vigo and Yago escape on a three-wheeler. Shortly thereafter, the driver Yago is captured by a policeman. The policeman searches him and finds a truncheon. When the guard uses the truncheon on Yago's chest to keep him away, the stick clearly flexes. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in La solitude du chanteur de fond (1974). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Messe Pour le Temps Présent--Psyché Rock See more » |
| Crazy Credits | Any resemblance to actual events, to persons living or dead, is not the result of chance. It is DELIBERATE. (Signed by) Jorge Semprún, Costa-Gavras See more » |
| Quotes |
Françoise Bonnot, Voiceover Narration:
[final lines]
The military regime banned: long hair, miniskirts, Sophocles, Tolstoy, Euripides, Russian-style toasts, strikes, Aristophanes, Ionesco, Sartre, Albee, Pinter, freedom of the press, sociology, Beckett, Dostoyevsky, modern music, pop music, new math, and the letter Z, which means HE LIVES in Ancient Greek. See more » |