13 (TZAMETI)
**** out of *****
Reviewed by Tobias

Screening in the 2006 New Zealand International Film Festival
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Genres
Mystery
Thriller

2006
Written and directed by
Géla Babluani
Cast
George Babluani .... Sébastien
Pascal Bongard .... Le maître de cérémonie
Aurélien Recoing .... Jacky
Fred Ulysse .... Alain
Nicolas Pignon .... Le parrain
Vania Vilers .... Mr. Schlondorff
Olga Legrand .... Mme Godon
Christophe Vandevelde .... Ludo
Augustin Legrand .... José
Jo Prestia .... Pierre Bléreau
Serge Chambon .... L'Organisateur
Philippe Passon .... Jean-François Godon

Sébastien (played by the director's brother George Babluani) is a typical hard working roofer struggling to put food on the table for his family, so when he overhears conversations of easy Euro while toiling on his employer’s roof  his curiosity is naturally stirred.  And when a mysterious envelope delivered to the same house drives the tenant to overdose, curiosity leads him to take the envelope, revealing a train ticket and paid hotel bill.  Checking in to the hotel under the guise of his previous employer Jean-François Godon, Sébastien receives further instructions that lead him further down a rabbit hole.

The mystery surrounding Sébastien's final destination feels lengthy, but once the protagonist is dropped off at a remote roundabout he is driven to a secluded house in the woods where the film shifts from mystery to thriller.  Sébastien is thrust into an illicit gambling ring where a game similar to Russian roulette puts every betting punter's 'player' against another with a gun, a few bullets and the chance to be shot – all determined by the spinning of a gun barrel.  Each round has less men, more bullets and higher stakes.  Sébastien's urgent need to escape rises along with the chances of his demise as he is forced to participate in stripping away more competition.

Directed by newcomer Gela Babluani, 13 (Tzameti) is filmed on black and white stock which at first glance could be dismissed as an attempt to make an art house feature.  However, the black and white presentation instead works to lessen the violence with grey blood and thus draws us to focus on the characters and the game from their perspective, where killing becomes a means to an end (and a way to make some money).  Each character's convincing performance makes the events more real and while the bodies are cleared, you are left to reflect on the question of whether you can take another man's life or have yours taken.  Sébastien visibly deteriorates gradually each round in the deadly game and tension mounts every time he and the remaining contenders step up for another round to face potential death.  The contenders are left between rounds, waiting in a room solemnly drinking while 'number 3' plays on a honky-tonk piano in a scene that is crafted as if straight out of an old Western bar.

There is a sub-plot introduced at the beginning of the film - investigators on the trail of this “Bloody business of murder”.  However intriguing this is though, by the closing of the film I felt as if it could have been developed further than simply tying up Sébastian's character.

Babluani's brilliant direction lays groundwork for the story itself to build the tension naturally rather than prompting viewers by artificial means such as soundtrack (which is all too common to see in film).  Instead, the subtle score advances the film without interfering and completes 13 (Tzameti) as a uniquely chilling thriller amongst the standard fare in mainstream cinema.  Such a strong début from Gela Babluani can only herald the beginning of many more features from this young director, and with threats of a Hollywood remake make sure you see the original.

This film will screen in Wellington on August 3rd at 11:30am and 9:15pm at the Paramount Theatre. Refer to the Film Fest homepage for more information.

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