State of Siege

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State of Siege

1972,

2h 0m,

Mystery & Thriller/

Drama

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78%

9 Reviews

Tomatometer

90%

500+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

78%

Tomatometer

9 Reviews

90%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

Assigned to work in South America, United States official Philip Michael Santore (Yves Montand) is employed by an agency involved in counterinsurgency tactics. Santore's position makes him a target for a local band of guerrillas, and, before long, he is kidnapped. As a prisoner, Santore undergoes interrogation, shedding light on the violent situation in the country. Once the insurgents are done with their questioning, they must decide whether Santore lives or dies.

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Penelope Gilliatt

The New Yorker

Jan 23, 2024

The picture deliberately hacks away all possibility of plot suspense. The grip of the story is in the possible twists and turns that casuistry can take, and it has two fine, inquiring minds controlling it.

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David Wilson

Sight & Sound

Mar 18, 2020

Characteristically, Costa-Gavras is unable to resist the opportunist tricks of the skilled exponent of political melodrama.

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Noel Murray

The Dissolve

Jun 2, 2015

4/5

Costa-Gavras captures how it feels to live under martial law, and how even some committed populists will scrap their ideals to protect their comfort and privilege.

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Sarah Boslaugh

TheArtsStl

Aug 9, 2025

6/10

Like many of Costa-Gavras’ films, State of Siege is presented so plainly that it feels almost like a documentary ...

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Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

Mar 29, 2022

FIVE STARS

Living by the sword always means dying by the same blade...

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James Kendrick

Q Network Film Desk

Jun 22, 2015

3.5/4

Rather than playing into the prejudices and biases of any one political stripe, State of Siege boldly dares to look at both sides, finding both fault and virtue.

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Ron G

Sep 20, 2016

State of Siege has the usual rhythm of any other Gavras affair, but fails in comparison to Z and The Confession for its emotional nakedness and considerable lack of tension in comparison.

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Costa-Gavras

Director

Yves Montand

Philip Michael Santore

Renato Salvatori

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Synopsis

Assigned to work in South America, United States official Philip Michael Santore (Yves Montand) is employed by an agency involved in counterinsurgency tactics. Santore's position makes him a target for a local band of guerrillas, and, before long, he is kidnapped. As a prisoner, Santore undergoes interrogation, shedding light on the violent situation in the country. Once the insurgents are done with their questioning, they must decide whether Santore lives or dies.

Director: Costa-Gavras
Screenwriter: Franco Solinas, Costa-Gavras
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language: Canadian French
Release Date (Streaming): May 27, 2015
Runtime: 2h 0m

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