Just imagine that a gun is pointed at your head and is about to be fired, and all you can do is wait helplessly with your heart pounding as every second passes by, for the shot to decide your fate.
The plot as many might already be aware of revolves around 22 year old Sebastian who while repairing a house steals a letter with a set of instructions that lead him to a building in a forest, where people bet on human lives. Of course while stealing the letter he only knows that big money is involved and not the fact that it may cost him his life.
In that house, a group of people nominate and bet on thirteen men who must play this whole game of death, Sebastian being one of them. He cant go back now, those are the rules. Each player is given a gun and a number of bullets randomly placed in the barrel. The men stand in a circle pointing their guns at the person standing in front of them. They all shoot as soon as a bulb goes on. A group of people bet on who will survive and if they win, they take a lot of money. After several rounds, the survivor in the end gets a part of the winnings.
The film moves in a slow but measured pace. The director succeeds in potraying the protagonist as a pure and good natured person and you truly wish that he survives. You pity the others who are about to die and you really tend to hate those who bet because they dont care about the value of human life and are just concerned about the bets. The movie captures all the human emotions more with silence than words. At the end of it all you are left with a disbelief and horror that something like this can happen.
The fact that it is shot in black and white makes it look more merciless(as intended). The script, cinematography and background score are all minimal and yet meaningful. Kudos to the director, I read that it was his debut.
This movie is really haunting and you will not forget this one for years. World Movies is currently screening this French movie with English subtitles. Dont miss it.