Yves Montand is convincing as an A.I.D. (Agency for International Development) American official who has just landed in the city of Montevideo, Uruguay. He is Philip Santore, actually based on Daniel A. Mitrone, an actual official who had been murdered by the Tupamaros. In actuality, Santore was serving more as an American police advisor for Uruguay since he had performed similar duties in other Latin American countries. Uruguay had been beset by the Tupamaros, urban guerrilla fighters who rob banks, casinos, and perform a whole lot of kidnapping of major government officials and citizens. Unfortunately, they sometimes kill which makes them less popular in the eyes of the country. The citizens are used to their operation as their cars are often obtained more than the people, but the officials never quite believe that the Tupamaros have the effrontery to kidnap them. Political prisoners are being held in Uruguay and the guerrillas want them released or else they will kill their latest kidnapped official, Santore.
The bulk of "State of Siege" features Santore as he is interviewed and questioned by a masked Tupamaro and we learn that Santore has endorsed torture techniques used by the CIA - some of these include electric shocks delivered to all parts of the body. Through the Santore recorded interrogation, we learn that Santore is a guinea pig for the government, he's only following orders like he did in Chile and elsewhere. Montand crucially shows the humanity of an official who might be powerless just like the Tupamaros are in truly implementing change. No change can be expected when a democracy is expected to flourish and yet the definitions of democracy change from official to official - it is implied that they barely care about a democracy and more about maintaining wealth and prestige, at least among themselves. The sharp-witted journalist, Carlos Ducas (O.E. Hasse), can see through all the bureaucratic nonsense and he is just as present in the film's narrative as Santore is - whether or not he is on the side of the officials or the Tupamaros is never addressed.
"State of Siege" is a sharply conceived, concisely contained thriller that starts with the murder of Santore and is carried along by flashbacks. It is a beautifully constructed narrative and there are moments that make you take pause, one in shock and horror followed by a deeper understanding of the country coming apart at the seams (there are also some humorous bits about the kidnapped officials). There are no easy answers and director Gavras has no solutions, nor does he take sides. Unlike what George Stevens, Jr. once said about withdrawing the film from being shown at the AFI, the movie never rationalizes the murder of an American official. "State of Siege" does try to interpret how fascism and the rise of violence are not answers.
