A prominent politician is murdered during a demonstration. The government and army are trying to suppress the truth, but a tenacious magistrate is determined to not to let them get away with it.
Direction
Costa-Gavras invented the modern political thriller here.
Editing
Rapid-fire cuts that mirror institutional chaos.
Acting
Trintignant's magistrate: quiet fury, zero glamour.
Director
Costa-Gavras
Yves Montand
Z
Irene Papas
Hélène
Jean-Louis Trintignant
Examining Magistrate
Jacques Perrin
Photojournalist
Charles Denner
Manuel
François Périer
Public Prosecutor
Bernard Fresson
Matt
Pierre Dux
Gendarmerie General Missou
Georges Géret
Nick
Magali Noël
Nick's Sister
Marcel Bozzuffi
Vago
Julien Guiomar
Gendarmerie Colonel
Renato Salvatori
Yago
Jean Bouise
Deputy Georges Pirou
Clotilde Joano
Shoula
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The 'Z' title refers to Greek resistance slogan 'He lives' — the film itself became global shorthand for state murder cover-ups.
Costa-Gavras shot in Algeria standing in for Greece; the actual junta banned it and jailed anyone caught screening it.
FR
DZ
