13 Tzameti (2005, Babluani)

[fizz]

I'll start by saying that if you REALLY want to enjoy this film, just take my word for it and stop reading now. Get it, watch it and then come back here. Look at the poster below, know that this is a moody, low-budget, black & white thriller in the realm of early Polanski and either go for it or just ignore it. If you still want to read about this film, here goes:

13 Tzameti is film that takes its time to really build up the right mood, atmosphere and the foreboding sense of something about to happen. Nearly the entire portion of the first third of the film is spent on creating a situation that is believable enough to allow us to be convinced of it being very possible. It features a young opportunist who stumbles by chance or fate or just dumb luck on the possibility of making a lot of money in a very short time span. All he knows is that he must meet someone and do what they ask him to do. If he succeeds, he will be rewarded. For me personally, not knowing exactly what it was that he was expected to do was the real surprise. So let me just talk about it now - unwittingly, he becomes the prized horse of a sophisticated, harsh game of Russian roulette. The sessions of playing Russian roulette are themselves staggering to watch - they are executed like a high stakes poker game. The setup features 13 men who stand in a circle, each pointing a gun with one bullet on another person in front. When the signal is given, a light bulb goes on and shots are fired. The effect is devastating, not just because of the gut wrenching terseness of what we see, but also the realization that the game will be played, with increasing difficulty and more elaborate rules, till a winner is found.

Films like 13 Tzameti only reinforce the fact that one of the most important aspects of making a good first film is having a strong, concrete storyline that is original and unique, if not in setup, then at least in execution. Playing Russian roulette on film is not new, but here it is taken to new and extreme heights that might make your stomach tie into a knot. It certainly made me curl my toes.

Rating: 4.5/5

[madali]

13 Tzameti (Babluani, 2005)
IMDB Link

I love it when in movies you have filthy rich people playing an illegal and immoral game. I just find it fun to indulge in their fantasy world of how far people can go, just because money is involved.

Shot in black and white, “13 Tzameti” is about a young, poor man who finds a note of a dead person who he knows was supposed to attend some illegal gathering. He knows there is big money involved so he goes without knowing what exactly happens there. Seems it is an illegal game where bets are huge.

The game is this. Players are in a circle. They all receive a gun. They put one bullet in it. Pistols raised, cylinders rolled. They then aim the gun on the back of the head of the player in front of them. A bulb is switched off, when it switches on, they all press the trigger at the same time. Whoever is left goes on the next stage with one extra bullet in the cylinder.

Hey, I’d play if I had tons of money. I would bet on the player. Or if I didn’t have any money, I’d be the players. Probably piss myself though.

Here are some random games that you can also play if you are rich and don’t care about the law:

1) Ten naked guys trying to hit each other in the balls. Anyone who blocks loses. Second round involves steel-toe boots. Third round, spike-toe boots. Last man standing wins .

2) Babies thrown from the 10th floor. Players standing below and trying to catch as many as they can. For each baby that is caught, the player gets 10,000 dollars. To play the game, you have to either enter your own baby. Audience pays to watch, but can’t play.

3) Rapid dogs VS midgets with swords. Round 2, midgets being chased by rapid dogs with grenades attached to them. Round 3, lions.

4) A soccer game with hedgehogs instead of soccer balls. Also, it is played in a minefield.

That’s it for now, but I think I can go on forever. I just need money and a small African government I can take over to make it Disney World for Adults.

4/5

[madali]

Brad Pitt's company has bought the rights to this film.

[X.]

Ha ha, you're fucking insane, man.

[kaytee]

I really had to prepare myself to watch this movie mainly because it is B/W. I hate it that in this modern time people try to be all old school to look cool. But in some occassions the movie demands it like Kafka, Pleasentville and this is one of those movies.

It really takes you by surprize. A great suggestions guys.