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- Director: Costa-Gavras
- Writer: Vasilis Vasilikos; Jorge Semprún
- Producer: Philippe d'Argila; Jacques Perrin
CGiii Comment
The darkest days of Greece...with - perhaps - the nastiest gay villain of all time!
This is a tour-de-force, a stunning piece of film-making.
Sublime acting coupled with intense & intelligent direction - it really is a very special film.
Without a doubt, worthy of its 2 Oscars. Brilliant.
The obvious question to ask is: why aren't films of this calibre being made today?
Trailer...
The(ir) Blurb...
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.
Cast & Characters
Yves Montand as The Deputy;
Irene Papas as Helene, the Deputy's wife;
Jean-Louis Trintignant as The Examining Magistrate;
Jacques Perrin as Photojournalist;
Charles Denner as Manuel;
François Périer as Public Prosecutor;
Pierre Dux as The General;
Georges Géret as Nick;
Bernard Fresson as Matt;
Marcel Bozzuffi as Vago;
Julien Guiomar as The Colonel;
Magali Noel as Nick's Sister;
Renato Salvatori as Yago;
Habib Reda;
Clotilde Joano as Shoula