Fermat's Room [DVD] [2007]

That's the first line of this Spanish language thriller, but it might also be considered good advice for someone deciding whether to watch it.The film begins as a handsome young mathematician, played by Alejo Sauras, is demonstrating an unusual approach to chatting up a pair of pretty girls: by giving them a lecture about mathematical problems.It transpires that he is a rising young star of mathematics who is due to give a demonstration in three days of his solution to a famous problem, Goldbach's conjecture. (This is a real conundrum, which at the time of writing has not been proved, that every even number greater than two can be expressed as the sum of two prime numbers.)For reasons which will become apparent, he is unable to give the presentation.A few months later, Sauras's character is one of four brilliant mathematicians who are invited to travel to a mysterious location so that they can be set the challenge of solving a fascinating mathematical engima. All four are asked to use the names of famous mathematicians from history - later in the film they realise that the names chosen have a macabre significance.Apart from Sauras's character, the other mathematicians invited are a moody inventor (Santi Millan), a pretty young genius (Elena Ballesteros), and a seasoned chess-playing math wizard who has been suffering from depression (Lluis Homar). The invitations have been sent in the name "Fermat", and sure enough, a fifth person arrives who is using that name (played by Federico Luppi).The four mathematicians are expecting "Fermat" to describe the puzzle when an unexpected emergency intervenes, and he has to leave. Making his apologies, he does so, promising to be back as soon as possible, and suggesting they start without him.The film may lose some viewers at this point as most people will be shaking their heads and thinking "what's going on here?" but then you realise that the characters in the film are equally baffled. The four mathematicians are still trying to understand this enigmatic comment when they realise that "Fermat" - or someone - has tricked them into entering a lethal trap which they have to use their mathematical and problem-solving skills to survive.The tension gradually builds as they try to survive and escape while asking themselves, who is "Fermat" and why has he - or someone - set up this elaborate trap?Very unusual, and not entirely plausible, but quite entertaining, especially if you are excited by the idea of solving puzzles under pressure. The acting is brilliant and it is easy to suspend disbelief while watching the film.This will probably be of most interest to those viewers who like mathematical and logical puzzles, but you don't have to understand all the puzzles which the characters have to solve to be able to enjoy the tension in the film.Soundtrack in Spanish, with English subtitles available.

Fermat's Room is a well paced mystery thriller to keep you guessing throughout as four mathematicians, at different moments in their careers and lives, come together to discuss a mathematical problem in a remote and unknown location.The mathematicians in question are thoughtfully written and provided with a nugget of background to help succinctly establish their character prior to the meeting in Fermat's room. All are portrayed with sufficient realism and intrigue to ensure the somewhat far-fetched premise (of mass-mathematician-murder) is not undermined by cliché and novelty but that it instead carries with it the weightiness of Mathematics and it's historical baggage of glory, madness, logic, jealousy, despair etc. all of which is cleverly referenced throughout, sometimes discreetly and other times neatly woven into the narrative.The eventual revelation of the groups predicament is dealt with somewhat candidly by the characters, but in a befitting manner were such a situation to arise amongst logic-driven intellectuals (as opposed to panic-prone, angst-ridden teens), and because of this, the slow and relentless nature of their inevitable doom, as the walls start closing in, correlates effectively with the escalating tension and emotion in the room, enabling the film to progress to a satisfying climax. As the four mathematicians are beset by a number of enigmas to prevent their impending demise, we are given a little enigma in each of the four mathematicians, whose secrets are gradually revealed in order to uncover the reason for their entrapment. All this is very well managed, using a stylish, red walled, almost grandiose and inviting set, but ultimately intended by their captor as a cramped, claustrophobic tomb. To conduct a film in such a setting is a highly credible technical achievement in itself and provides the perfect environment for the tension, drama and secrets to unfold.There are titbits of humour throughout; some intentionally - in the clever script as a character infers from a logic problem the nature of individuals in the group, and some unintentionally - in the Black Adder-esque opening title sequence as a black-gloved hand is seen arranging a scale model of Fermat's room (comic-gothic-noir?). Intended or not, all the humour lends an aspect to the film which helps evolve the premise of four mathematicians trapped in a room to four identifiable, likeable and complex human beings trapped in a room. Rather than just victims, we see people.What I would have enjoyed more of, (which is in part provided by deleted scenes in the special features), was more detail in the establishment of the characters, with which to refer to later in the film as revelations are made and the pieces of the puzzle slot together as the ultimate enigma is unveiled. It was apparently the two directors decision to omit these background scenes in response to audience feedback and also because they were deemed non-essential for the story arc and may arguably have detracted from the pace of the film, which is a tidy 90 minutes after all. Also, if you're not a Spanish speaker the subtitles may be a little on the small side and sometimes lack contrast from the background, which can unfortunately detract from subtle nuances within the script, unless you have a keen eye. Despite these minor shortcomings, Fermat's Room is a thrilling and enjoyable treat, based on a simple premise performed and directed very well and though in a contemporary setting, there is an old fashioned feel to it, evoking aspects of classic noir and relying on good acting and story telling above all else. I'd recommend it to all but the most claustrophobic of mathematicians.