Review of Z

Z (1969)
9/10
intense crowd scenes and compelling political drama
25 March 2015
The country is under the control of a right-wing militaristic government. Deputy (Yves Montand) leads a peace rally to end militarism, nuclear weapons and foreign alliances. The rally is opposed by an angry mob while the police stands by. Another deputy is brutally attacked by a gang of pro-military thugs after being mistaken for the leader. The leader is later mortally wounded by the same thugs. The police and the military attempt to hide the evidence and slam the opposition. A magistrate is brought in to investigate the case. He's misled and pressured by the powerful. The thugs try to hide. Nevertheless the magistrate doggedly follow the evidence.

The start is a little slow as it paints the picture of the country. Then fifteen minutes in, the movie hits like a club to the head. The government thugs are seething with anger. The thugs are played to the sleaziest ugliest depths. That crowd is filled with a threatening sense of dread that is all too real. The whole incident crashes and boils uncontrollably. The investigation afterwards is compelling. There are some ups and downs. The style does have some slower moments. However it also has great insightful moments. Those moments are all the more compelling coming during that turbulent year.
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