Review: 13 Tzameti

Early in 2006 (or was it late 2005?), my brother came home and told me that I had to watch this new Georgian movie called 13 Tzameti that was probably never going to be released in theatres. After a bit of searching, I managed to get my hands on a copy of Géla Babluani’s film, and I’ve been thanking my brother ever since. Lucky for all of you, 13 Tzameti has now opened in theatres so you won’t have to search for a copy, and I strongly suggest you check out this stark, gutsy, and gritty film that is anything but conventional.

It’s hard to say much about the story without giving away too much, but 13 Tzameti is basically a story of a young man who takes a remarkable journey into the gambling underworld and has to deal with mental and physical risks he could never have imagined. The film is shot in black and white, which makes it even more gritty than it already is, and every scene has a latent sense of dread that permeates between the characters and the set and effectively jars the viewing audience. Tzameti is not for the faint of heart, but it certainly isn’t a film worth missing. You’ll never look at an unlit light bulb the same way again.