"13 Tzameti"

The film, "13 Tzameti", directed by Gela Babluani is French thriller that was made in 2005. This film is very dramatic and suspenseful. The protagonist, Sebastien, is a twenty-two year old guy who is working to repair Godon's roof. Sebastien is working to help support his family (father, mother, sister and brother). When Godon dies, he finds some papers and follow the instructions. Sebastien ends up getting into more that he bargains for just so he can get a lot of money for his family. A very noble cause but not necessarily worth it for what all he has to do to get it. He is taken to this place where there are 13 men who are willing to risk their lives just so people can gamble and they, the players, can make a lot of money. Sebastien ends up winning at the expense of killing three people (I think). He is able to send his family the money he made, meanwhile the police are after him. He is headed home on a train and luck would have it that the guy he killed in the duel brother is on the train. He ends up shooting him and taking off with what he thinks is the money.

The film was shot in black and white. Throughout the film, I was stressed and tense wandering what was going to happen next. There was not too many times where the audience could have some relief from some of the extreme scenes. The director does a great job with making the audience feel much like Sebastien. The cinematography was aesthetically pleasing. Even though the lighting was simple, the darkness in the black and white fit the characteristics of the storyline very well. I really like the shots where the camera was acting as the lens to the photographs that the man was taking outside Godon's house. It was intriguing and made the audience feel apart of the film.

Sebastien definitely matured in a short amount of time. He is scared from life from this experience. I don't know if that was all worth it in the end. Another thing that seems hard to believe is even though he had no idea what he could be getting into he still does it. As the audience leaves the film they too are touch and some scared from the experience. Somehow, now the number thirteen will not have the same meaning anymore.