Special Section

Special Section (1975)

Genres - Drama, War, Thriller  |   Sub-Genres - War Drama, Political Drama  |   Run Time - 110 min.  |   Countries - France  |   MPAA Rating - PG
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Synopsis by Hal Erickson

Based on a true story, Costa-Gavras' Special Section (Section Speciale) is set in wartime France, but the parallels to contemporary political persecution are inescapable. A young German naval officer is killed in occupied Paris. The supplicative Vichy government sets about to locate the perpetrators. Four idealistic young Frenchman are arrested, tortured and slated for execution. It is clear that it doesn't matter whether they're guilty or not: the flames of totalitarianism must be stoked, even with the blood of the innocent. And it's especially convenient if the accused are thoroughly expendable in the eyes of the authorities.

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Keywords

execution, France, officer, persecution, totalitarianism