État de siège (1972)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Costa-Gavras

Writers:

Franco Solinas (written by)
Costa-Gavras (original scenario) ...

Release Date:

30 December 1972 (West Germany)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Plot:

In Uruguay in the early 1970s, an official of the US Agency for International Development (a group used...

Plot Keywords:

Cold War | Torture | Valparaíso Chile | Third World | Political

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Yves Montand	...	Philip Michael Santore
Renato Salvatori	...	Captain Lopez
O.E. Hasse	...	Carlos Ducas
Jacques Weber	...	Hugo
Jean-Luc Bideau	...	Este
Maurice Teynac	...	Minister of Internal Security
Yvette Etiévant	...	Woman Senator
Evangeline Peterson	...	Mrs. Santore
Harald Wolff	...	Minister of Foreign Affairs
Nemesio Antúnez	...	President of the Republic
Mario Montilles	...	Assistant Commissioner Fontant
André Falcon	...	Deputy Fabbri
Jerry Brouer	...	Anthony Lee
Roberto Navarrete	...	Commissioner Romero
Douglas Harris	...	A.I.D. Director

Also Known As:

Der unsichtbare Aufstand (West Germany)
L'amerikano (Italy)
State of Siege

Runtime:

Germany:115 min | USA:120 min

Country:

France | West Germany | Italy

Language:

French

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

West Germany:16 (f) | South Korea:18 (1993) | Argentina:16 | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Playa Ancha, Chile

Company:

Cinema X

Trivia:

This was going to be the first movie shown in the new John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. It was cancelled because the plot of the movie was judged to be inappropriate. This caused a big controversy. A Washington D.C. television station took advantage of the controversy by acquiring the broadcast rights to the film and showing it uncut after running a big advertising campaign calling it the "film banned from the Kennedy Center."

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Dancer Upstairs (2002)

An under exposed classic; better than 'Z'

What is most significant about this movie is how few have seen it. Only 66 people have voted on it here whereas over 700 have voted on Z, its counterpart and also a fine movie. 'State of Siege' follows the realities and deceptions concerning the CIA involvement in South America. The movie is uplifting and depressing, humorous and appalling. Viewers are forced to meander through contrasting elements deeply personal and highly political. I saw the film once when it was first released and have not been able to find it since, yet I remember virtually every scene. It would be wonderful to restore it to full circulation.