13 Tzameti 2006

The film narrates the gripping tale of Sébastien, a 22-year-old Georgian immigrant trying to make ends meet in France by taking on various construction jobs to support his impoverished family. His life takes a dark turn when he becomes involved with Godon, a fragile morphine addict living under police scrutiny. After Godon succumbs to an overdose, his widow informs Sébastien that she cannot pay him for his hard work.

In a twist of fate, Sébastien overhears a conversation between the widow and one of Godon’s acquaintances, revealing a clandestine “job” that Godon had arranged prior to his demise. Driven by desperation, Sébastien seizes an envelope containing the details of this job and uses the provided train ticket to escape his mundane life, catching the unwarranted attention of the police along the way.

The trail leads him to a remote house deep within a forest, where a sinister gambling event unfolds, orchestrated by a formidable criminal figure. Despite being a stranger amongst the conspirators, Sébastien is coerced into participating in a high-stakes game, where thirteen men, identified only by numbers, must engage in a harrowing series of Russian roulette matches. As the game intensifies, Sébastien, adorned with the number 13, manages to survive the initial rounds, narrowly evading death each time; the brutal games expose the harrowing reality of survival amidst chaos.

“It’s not just a game, it’s life and death,” he realizes, as each round becomes increasingly lethal.

While it seems he might escape the grim fate awaiting him, Sébastien is ultimately thrust into a final duel against a ruthless opponent known as #6, who is backed by his own brother. Against all odds, Sébastien triumphs, emerging as the winner and seizing €850,000 from the profits earned through his participation.

In an act of sheer urgency, he sends the money home in hopes of securing a better future for his family, just before the police close in. He concocts a story of being turned away from the game without any monetary gain, providing them with the license plate of a malicious gambler to cover his tracks. However, in a stunning turn of events, as he boards a train, the brother of #6 spots him, leading to a tense confrontation.

In the end, Sébastien is shot and robbed, collapsing into a train seat, leaving viewers contemplating the fragility of life and the devastating consequences of desperate choices.