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Released 29th May 2009
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TV writer/directors-turned-debut-feature-film-makers Luis Piedrahita and Rodrigo Sopena have created the ultimate take on the classic murder-mystery scenario for the present-day audience and ‘geeked’ it up with lots of mathematical puzzles and PDA gadgets. This low-key, but pleasantly surprisingly Spanish affair fuels the curiosity from the moment the four strangers and mathematical geniuses meet at the water’s edge for a weekend of enigma solving, organised by a mysterious host known only as ‘Fermat’. The creepy opening titles of gloved hands creating a doll’s living room serve as the only sinister clue to the group’s destiny with fate. The film is like an intellectual’s Saw or Cube, minus the visual blood and gore. The horror is purely played out in the mind of viewer as to what could happen, and it’s a chilling and sobering thought for anyone suffering from even mild claustrophobia.
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The story concept is a simple one that could just as easily be at played out on a theatre stage, as on the big screen. What is incredibly compelling are the fully engaging performances from Santi Millan, Lluis Homar, Alejo Sauras and Elena Ballesteros who completely capture the imagination and tense atmosphere of being imprisoned in, initially, a comfortable living room, which turns out to be a death-trap set to crush its occupants should they fail to solve each riddle sent to them via PDA. As desperation brews and boils over, and ugly truths are revealed, the real enigma of just why the hell these four have been chosen is unravelled and exposed. There also is an inviting twist with the puzzling character of Fermat (played by Federico Luppi, Pan’s Labyrinth) that the film-makers play on and dramatically conclude in one of the most haunting and poetically-shot accident scenes seen on film in some time.
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As well as the buzz of putting the old grey matter to the test with each new electronic riddle, the fundamental question (and puzzle) is just how four walls can move and shrink a room but still remain intact? This rather accomplished and no-frills thriller means thinking both inside and outside of the box, and makes for a truly exhilarating first cinematic outing for Piedrahita and Sopeña.
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By Lisa Keddie
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Synopsis
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Four mathematicians who have never met before are invited by a mysterious host to spend a weekend in an abandoned house, to try and solve a great numerical enigma.
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However, they soon realise that each time they fail to solve a puzzle the room they are in starts to shrink. Unless they quickly find out why someone is trying to murder them all, they will soon be crushed to death.
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Film Facts
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Official site: http://www.fermatsroom.co.uk/
UK Release Date: 29th May 2009
Directors: Luis Piedrahita, Rodrigo Sopena
Writers: Luis Piedrahita, Rodrigo Sopena
Cast: Lluis Homar (’Hilbert’), Alejo Sauras (’Galois’), Elena Ballesteros (’Oliva’), Santi Millan (’Pascal’), Federico Luppi (’Fermat’)
Distributor: Revolver Entertainment
Certificate: TBC
Run-time: 88 mins
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Video on Real.com
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Trailer:
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TWO CLIPS:
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