Sebastien (George Babluani), a clean-faced 20-year-old who lives in dire straits with his immigrant family, is hired to repair the roof of the morphine-addicted Godon (Philippe Passon). The old man dies before Sebastien can be paid, but not before the boy overhears a conversation that seems to promise easy money. He impulsively decides he will follow the instructions meant for Godon and see where they lead him.

It's a promising premise and well-accompanied by an atmosphere of threatening mystery. Once Sebastien steps on a train with his filched first-class ticket, events start moving quickly. Unbeknown to him, the police are following his every move -- but why?

Sabine Bauchart's screenplay keeps viewers guessing a little too long as he scrambles from clue to clue. Then, just when it seems the story is dissolving into a wild goose chase, Sebastien comes face to face with a ring of clandestine gamblers who bet on human lives.

Second half of film is a tour-de-force exercise in horror. Arriving at a secluded house in the woods, Sebastien suddenly finds himself Player No. 13 in a terrible game. Although the tale has the quality of a nightmare, actors play it straight with faces filled with human degradation and despair. Trapped in a situation he can do nothing about, Sebastien loses his innocence before the first round is over.

Though not as intense as some of the other thesps, young Babluani is easy to identify with, involving the audience in the mounting horror of his situation. Among the other "players" in the diabolical game, Aurelien Recoing is a live-wire standout, while Pascal Bongard is unforgettable as the screaming referee and master of ceremonies.

The director -- son of well-known Georgian helmer Temur Babluani -- has absorbed a lot from classic East European cinema, including a feeling for eerie faces and images, and a knack for building tension. He is fortunate to apply his gifts to Sabine Bauchart's quite original screenplay, which might be a candidate for a remake.

Tariel Meliava's B&W cinematography has a stark brutality that brings the old Georgian cinema to mind, as do the faces of just about every member of the cast. A score by East (Troublemakers) pumps up the tension, making it useless to close your eyes.

For the record, "Tzameti" means 13 in Georgian.

Camera (B&W), Tariel Meliava; editor, Noemie Moreau; music, East (Troublemakers); art director, Bernard Peault; sound (Dolby Digital), Ludovic Elias. Reviewed at Venice Film Festival (Venice Days), Sept. 3, 2005. Running time: 93 MIN.

 

With: Vania Villers, Fred Ulysse, Augustin Legrand, Joe Prestia, Christophe Vandevelde.
(French dialogue)