13 Tzameti (2005)
Country: FR
Technical: bw/scope 93m
Director: Gela Babluani
Cast: Georges Babluani, Aurélien Recoing, Pascal Bongard
Synopsis:
An East-European family struggles to make a life in modern France, the men engaging in building work. It is while repairing a roof that one of them learns of an advantageous affair for which the owner is awaiting an envelope. When the latter dies of a morphine overdose he finds the envelope and takes his place, but will regret his decision.
Review:
The Georgian director was inspired by the subliminal violence he sensed in French society, in contrast with the more blatant violence of political oppression back home. The Russian roulette contest in which the young man finds himself is a nightmarish fight to the death in which wealthy punters (businessmen, politicians?) bet on the outcome. Thus the violence flourishes underground and the disenfranchised are its raw material. The grainy black and white cinematography focuses the eye on the actors' faces, most notably the principal opponent, Recoing. The ending is bleakly downbeat: unwilling to part with his hard won gains, 13 refuses to cooperate with the police and pays the price. Mistrust and alienation condemn him from both sides of the law.
Country: FR
Technical: bw/scope 93m
Director: Gela Babluani
Cast: Georges Babluani, Aurélien Recoing, Pascal Bongard
Synopsis:
An East-European family struggles to make a life in modern France, the men engaging in building work. It is while repairing a roof that one of them learns of an advantageous affair for which the owner is awaiting an envelope. When the latter dies of a morphine overdose he finds the envelope and takes his place, but will regret his decision.
Review:
The Georgian director was inspired by the subliminal violence he sensed in French society, in contrast with the more blatant violence of political oppression back home. The Russian roulette contest in which the young man finds himself is a nightmarish fight to the death in which wealthy punters (businessmen, politicians?) bet on the outcome. Thus the violence flourishes underground and the disenfranchised are its raw material. The grainy black and white cinematography focuses the eye on the actors' faces, most notably the principal opponent, Recoing. The ending is bleakly downbeat: unwilling to part with his hard won gains, 13 refuses to cooperate with the police and pays the price. Mistrust and alienation condemn him from both sides of the law.
Country: FR
Technical: bw/scope 93m
Director: Gela Babluani
Cast: Georges Babluani, Aurélien Recoing, Pascal Bongard
Synopsis:
An East-European family struggles to make a life in modern France, the men engaging in building work. It is while repairing a roof that one of them learns of an advantageous affair for which the owner is awaiting an envelope. When the latter dies of a morphine overdose he finds the envelope and takes his place, but will regret his decision.
Review:
The Georgian director was inspired by the subliminal violence he sensed in French society, in contrast with the more blatant violence of political oppression back home. The Russian roulette contest in which the young man finds himself is a nightmarish fight to the death in which wealthy punters (businessmen, politicians?) bet on the outcome. Thus the violence flourishes underground and the disenfranchised are its raw material. The grainy black and white cinematography focuses the eye on the actors' faces, most notably the principal opponent, Recoing. The ending is bleakly downbeat: unwilling to part with his hard won gains, 13 refuses to cooperate with the police and pays the price. Mistrust and alienation condemn him from both sides of the law.