The title of Georgian director Gela Babluani’s cult film 13 Tzameti is a redundancy: tzameti means 13 in Georgian. But there’s nothing excessive or wasteful about Babluani’s debut feature from 2005.

The French-language thriller revolves around a Georgian immigrant who gets involved in a high-stakes, highly profitable racket. Sebastian (Georges Babluani) is a construction worker who is barely getting by. While repairing a client’s roof, Sebastian overhears talk of a money-making scheme.

It’s all very hush-hush. Directions to a place where riches await are discreetly dropped off in a letter box. Sebastian steals the envelope and sets off on a journey that exposes the extremes to which people will go to make money.

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Despite being exhorted to “be philosophical!”, Sebastian finds himself pushed to the limit. The deadly game of chance that Sebastian has walked into ends in only one way.

13 Tzameti is out on MUBI. Gela Babluani packs in mystery, suspense and crisp character studies into just 95 minutes. The film is in black and white, which add to its starkness and unrelenting mood of dread.

Cinematographer Tariel Meliava’s intense close-ups are very effective in ratcheting up the tension. 13 Tzameti is a model of low-budget, minimalist filmmaking that doesn’t need big-name actors, elaborate sets or action scenes to be impactful.

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13 Tzameti inspired an official – and mediocre – remake by Babluani in Hollywood. Not only was the English version, titled 13, in colour, which defeated the purpose, but it also starred recognisable actors, among them Jason Statham and Sam Riley. 13 Tzameti even led to an unofficial remake, Bollywood’s very own Luck (2009), about which the less said, the better.

13 Tzameti (2005).

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