I'd heard good things about this French thriller, so I went in with relatively high hopes. My hopes weren't exactly met, but this film certainly represents a success for the French film industry and I for one certainly don't regret watching it. The film is shot in black and white, which is most definitely a good thing as it excellently compliments the bleak and oppressive tone of the film. The film works from a good premise - albeit one that doesn't have a lot of point, and 13 (Tzameti) is more an exercise in style than one of substance. The film focuses on Sébastien, a young man who makes the silly decision of following instructions from a phone call meant for somebody else. Without his knowledge, he is being tailed by a tough French copper, and after doing what the mysterious guy on the phone told him to - he finds himself in a bleak and very dangerous place where you're life isn't worth a thing and immoral men stand to make a lot of money.
The film gets off to a slow start, but it livens up quite a bit once the plot starts to reveal itself. The main highlight of the film for me was the way that it presents a gloomy situation in the most pessimistic way possible. Director Géla Babluani certainly has an eye for visuals, and many scenes in the film - the main pivotal one for example - are likely to stick in the memory. It all comes back down to the lack of a point, however, and that definitely hinders the film. You could attribute a few ideas to the film - things such as 'don't follow instructions meant for someone else', but this sort of thing doesn't hold much weight. Don't get me wrong - I don't require every film I watch to have a point (far from it, in fact), but when a feel looks and feels deep like this one does, it's hugely disappointing when you can't scrape a bit of substance together. Overall, 13 (Tzameti) is definitely worth watching - the visuals are great and the story is interesting, but given the reaction it's got so far - the word 'overrated' springs to mind.
The film gets off to a slow start, but it livens up quite a bit once the plot starts to reveal itself. The main highlight of the film for me was the way that it presents a gloomy situation in the most pessimistic way possible. Director Géla Babluani certainly has an eye for visuals, and many scenes in the film - the main pivotal one for example - are likely to stick in the memory. It all comes back down to the lack of a point, however, and that definitely hinders the film. You could attribute a few ideas to the film - things such as 'don't follow instructions meant for someone else', but this sort of thing doesn't hold much weight. Don't get me wrong - I don't require every film I watch to have a point (far from it, in fact), but when a feel looks and feels deep like this one does, it's hugely disappointing when you can't scrape a bit of substance together. Overall, 13 (Tzameti) is definitely worth watching - the visuals are great and the story is interesting, but given the reaction it's got so far - the word 'overrated' springs to mind.