The political thriller, "Z," the final film in the 2007-08 Classic Film Series, will be shown May 14 at the Dunaway Center.
Courtesy photo
OGUNQUIT - Ogunquit Performing Arts will conclude the 2007-08 Classic Film Series season on May 14 with the showing of "Z" starring Yves Montand.
The film will be shown at the Dunaway Center at 7 p.m. and there will be pre- and post-video discussions led by University of Maine Professor Emeritus of Theatre Norman Wilkinson of Ogunquit Performing Arts, who is an authority on theatre and film history.
Winner of he Best Foreign Film Oscar in 1969, "Z" closely parallels the real-life assassination of Gregorios Lambrakis, a Greek doctor and humanist whose murder in 1963 led to an abortive public scandal.
"Z" has been hailed as one of the greatest political thrillers ever made with superb performances by a top international cast of Montand, Jean-Louis Trintignant and Irene Papas. It was also winner of the Cannes Film Festival Jury Prize and Best Actor for Trintignant.
It is probably one of the most politically insightful films ever made, exposing government hypocrisy and cover-up in the wake of a political assassination.
Zei, played by Montand, is a scientist who is scheduled to give a speech against the use of the atomic bomb. He is attacked on the way to the event, recovers long enough to make his speech, yet is later clubbed again and must undergo several surgeries. He dies from one of the procedures.
Director Costa-Gavras used actual trial transcripts of the investigation into the May 22, 1963, assassination of Greek pacifist leader Lambrakis, which proved a government conspiracy in his death.
Montand gives the best dramatic performance of his life and Papas stars as his wife.
The letter "Z" in the Greek alphabet means "He is alive."
Don't miss "Z," the final film in the 2007-08 Classic Film Series at the Dunaway Center, 23 School Street in Ogunquit. There is plenty of free parking and admission is free.
For more about OPA, call 646-6170.
