One of the most influential political thrillers of all time, Costa Gavras’ Z is a thinly fictionalised account of the events surrounding the assassination of Greek politician Grigoris Lambrakis in the early 1960s. A darkly comic, biting satire of political and institutional corruption, the film follows a magistrate (Jean-Louis Trintignant) as he doggedly investigates the supposedly accidental death of a charismatic left-wing politician (Yves Montand). His work leads him to uncover a shadowy conspiracy, including connections between the government and far-right agitators that has unsettling echoes of contemporary U.S. politics.
Part of the retrospective States of Danger and Deceit: European Thrillers in the 1970s (presented by HOME / supported by the BFI). The full list of titles in the retrospective at LIFF 2017 is as follows: The Day of the Jackal, The Deputy, Don't Torture a Duckling, The Flight, Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion, The Lost Honour of Katharina Blum, The Man on the Roof, The Mattei Affair, Seven Days in January, State of Siege, Z.
Ticket offers: the LIFF 2017 Pass is incredible value or see 6 films for the price of 5 (available by phone or in person only).
