13 Tzameti
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| 13 Tzameti | |
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| Directed by | Géla Babluani |
| Produced by | Géla Babluani |
| Written by | Géla Babluani |
| Starring | George Babluani Pascal Bongard Philippe Passon Aurélien Recoing |
| Music by | The Troublemakers |
| Distributed by | Palm Pictures |
| Release date(s) |  February 8, 2006 |
| Running time | 86 min. |
| Language | French |
| Budget | €1,400,000 |
| Allmovie profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
13 Tzameti is a 2005 film written and directed by Georgian filmmaker Géla Babluani. Tzameti is the Georgian word for thirteen. 13 Tzameti is the feature length directorial debut for Babluani. It also marks the acting debut of his younger brother Georges Babluani, who plays the film's protagonist Sébastien.
A destitute immigrant worker steals an envelope containing instructions for a mysterious job that could pay out a fortune. Following the instructions, the young man unwittingly becomes trapped in a dark and dangerous situation.
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[edit] Plot
The film follows twenty-two year-old Sébastien, a Georgian immigrant living in France and working construction jobs to support his poor family. Sébastien works on the home of Godon, a feeble morphine-addict who is under police surveillance. After Godon dies of an overdose, his widow informs Sébastien that she is unable to pay him. Sébastien then overhears the widow talking with one of Godon's friends, describing a mysterious "job" that Godon had lined up before his death. The destitute Sébastien steals an envelope containing the instructions for the job. The police begin following Sébastien as he uses the train ticket contained in the envelope.
The police lose track of Sébastien as he follows the instructions and is brought to a secluded house in a forest. At the house, a deadly gambling event is being organized by a powerful criminal. Though Sébastien's contacts immediately recognize that he is not Godon and has no idea what he is getting into, they force him to participate in the game. Thirteen men identified by number must undergo a series of Russian roulette games, arranging themselves into a circle and pointing their revolver at the man in front of them. Spectators place bets on who will survive. Sébastien, as #13, survives the first round and fires his gun only after threatened with death. On the second round, in which two bullets are placed in each gun, Sébastien survives only because the man behind him is killed before he could fire. On the third round, with three bullets in each gun, Sebastien survives along with three other men.
Though he believes that he is finished, Sébastien is selected for the final "duel" game against #6, a cruel man who is managed by his own brother. Sébastien wins the duel and survives the game. He collects a small fraction of the winnings his handlers have made from him, then flees the house. Fearing for his life, he sends the money home in a parcel before the police catch up with him. He tells the detective that he was turned away from the game and received no money, but gives the license plate number of a particularly unpleasant gambler in attendance. The police release him, but the brother of #6 spots him as he boards a train. The brother shoots Sébastien and steals his empty satchel. Sébastien collapses into a seat and dies as the train begins to move.
[edit] Reception
The film has an 84% approval rating of critics tracked by Rotten Tomatoes, which described the critical consensus as, "This starkly minimalist nail-biter of a thriller relentlessly builds up the tension and keeps the audience guessing."[1]
[edit] Awards
The film won the World Cinema Jury Prize at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival. It also won two awards at the 62nd Venice Film Festival.[2]
[edit] Remake
An American remake of the film is in the works[3], however Babluani intends to "change a lot of the storyline" and avoid reshooting the original film. He has also indicated that he intends to shoot the remake in color (Screening at the University of Notre Dame, 23 Feb 2007).
[edit] External links
- Official website
- official website US
- Official US website @ Palm Pictures
- 13 Tzameti at the Internet Movie Database
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