Review of 13 Tzameti (2006) by Brett W — 13 May 2008

TZAMETI.

Tzameti(Details here), is the debut film from Gela Babluani, with an orignal and intriguing narrative and some noiristic and innovative direction. Definitely a fantastic debut from the French director.

Sebastien is a young roofer, who whilst fixing a roof for someone, overhears them talking about a high paying, one off job. Upon the death of the occupant, Sebastien follows the instruction in his letter, leading him to a dangerous underworld of betting, where both the rewards and stakes are extreme.

The performances are that of brooding realism, with a slight surrealist edge. Large silences on screen are held via the direction and the facial expressions of the protagonists. Although not fantastic performances, they are very gripping and highly stylised to go with the whole film.

The direction is of special interest, cinematography is highlighted in the film, cinematography is a huge focus, giving the audience some interesting visuals, and a genuine mass of tension that grips the viewer intensely.

The strength of this movie lies also in it's narrative, the whole concept is vastly engaging and acts as a beautiful character piece, whilst providing an interesting social commentary.

Overall, this movie is a great piece of cinema, showcasing a great new directorial talent. With a fantastic concept and script, cinematography makes the noir-esque features and grittyness features fit sublimely and really captivate the audience. A definate for genuine fans of cinema.