I saw the movie when it first came out and was so impressed by the power of photography, photojournalism, to shine a light on dark and hidden subjects, to influence events. A few years later I began to pursue photography as a profession but it probably wasn't until sometime in the mid-1990s that I realised how much this movie Z influenced me in that choice.
shareThis movie had also a great impact on me, although in a different way.
I saw this movie for the first time at the age of 15, at a film festival (I remember seeing in that festival, also for the first time, such gems like "Fanny and Alexander" "The Kiss of the Spider Woman" "Solaris" (Tarkovsky's version), "Amarcord", among others.
But none of them affected me so deeply as "Z", specially the last 5 minutes. I couldn't believe that even a letter could be banned due its ulterior meaning. I couldn't believe it!
I've to say that this movie opened my eyes to such things like totalitarian regimes, fascists juntas, etc. Since then I never saw the world in the same way.
These experiences (yours and mine) are evidences on how a movie can influence people for good.
I just have seen "Z" once again, almost 20 years later. The effect wasn't the same because I knew already the story, anyway IMO "Z" still remains powerful and haven't aged a bit. Now I understand its implications better because my country is now ruled by a right-wing party and the things doesn't look any good. Hopefully they won't ban "Z".