Film
What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases
Bookmark this pageFermat's Room (2007)
Director: Luis Piedrahita, Rodrigo Sopeña
Movie review
From Time Out London
Four hotshot mathematicians (oh, they exist!) find themselves in a spot of bother when, having solved a riddle posted to them by the illusively monikered ‘Fermat’, they are duly invited to an ego-fanning ideas symposium in the countryside. On arrival, they are locked inside a sleek boudoir where they are forced to answer fiendish maths teasers on pain of death by crushing… or at least that’s what we’re led to believe. Sadly, Spanish writing-directing duo Luis Piedrahita and Rodriga Sopeña are more interested in building on a tortuous, illogical set-up than developing a way to make the maths problems (and the protagonists’ lives) worth giving a fig about. It’s more than competently directed and performed, but you’ll be pulling your hair out as time ticks down, deadlines are passed, walls slowly cave in and you’re still being force-fed huge blocks of flabby, overly intricate backstory. The maths element of the film, which on the surface is its USP, feels like dressing on a taut but tawdry genre thriller.Author: David Jenkins
Time Out London Issue 2023, May 28 - June 3, 2009
Cast & crew
Director: Luis Piedrahita, Rodrigo Sopeña
Cast: Lluís Homar, Alejo Sauras full cast
Genre(s): Thrillers
Rated: 15
Duration: 88 mins
UK Release: May 29 2009
US Release: Nov 16 2007
Most popular on this site
Top Stories
Has David Cronenberg turned tame?
Has director David Cronenberg veered too far from his radical and bloody roots with new film 'A Dangerous Method'?
The 10 worst date movies
Just in time for Valentine's Day, we present ten of the least romantic films ever made
Where to watch this year's Oscar-nominated films
Find out where to watch 2012's Oscar-nominated films in London cinemas
10 unlikely badboy biopics
Featuring Phil Collins, Jeremy Clarkson, Nick Clegg, David Starkey and a host of other unlikely subjects
Interview: Sean Durkin on 'Martha Marcy May Marlene'
The first-time director of the brilliant new thriller discusses religious cults and robot boxing
Pop-up cinema for Valentine's Day
Side-step romantic clichés with some alternative Valentine’s viewing
What do you think?
Post your review now