Special Section

1975 1h 50m FR

👍

7.1

SOLID

★7.1TMDB · 55

DramaHistoryThriller

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

In Nazi-occupied France, a German officer is assassinated. The Germans demand justice, and the Vichy government is quick to capitulate. Unable to apprehend the actual culprits, Minister of Justice Joseph Barthélémy decides the execution of token Frenchmen will suffice, but the problem is finding judges and jurors eager to participate in a sham trial of innocent men. The solution is a Special Section, a court comprised of individuals handpicked for this exact purpose.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Louis Seigner
Le garde des Sceaux Joseph Barthélémy
Michael Lonsdale
Pierre Pucheu - le ministre de l'intérieur
Claude Piéplu
Bénon - le président de la section spéciale
Pierre Dux
Le procureur général Cavarroc
Heinz Bennent
Le major Beumelburg
Michel Galabru
Le président Cournet
Roland Bertin
Georges Dayras
Hans Richter
Le général Otto von Stülpnagel

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Costa-Gavras
Writers: Jorge Semprún, Costa-Gavras
Languages: English, German, French
Countries: France, Germany, Italy

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

51 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 3 languages: English, German, French.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 3 countries: France, Germany, Italy.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Costa-Gavras, shot by Andréas Winding. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Éric Demarsan. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Françoise Bonnot shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Louis Seigner and Michael Lonsdale and Claude Piéplu carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0073679 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Costa-Gavras directs. Andréas Winding behind the camera. Éric Demarsan scores. Françoise Bonnot cuts. Produced in France, Germany, Italy. Dialogue in English, German, French.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

151 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2Dialogue crosses 3 languages: English, German, French.
3International production across 3 countries: France, Germany, Italy.
4Directed by Costa-Gavras, shot by Andréas Winding. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Éric Demarsan. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Françoise Bonnot shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Louis Seigner and Michael Lonsdale and Claude Piéplu carry the top of the cast.
8IMDB entry: tt0073679 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Only 55 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.