Exam (2009)

The final candidates for a highly desirable corporate job are locked together in an exam room and given a test so simple and confusing that tension begins to unravel.

Director:

Stuart Hazeldine

Writers:

Stuart Hazeldine, Simon Garrity (story),

Stars:

Adar Beck, Gemma Chan, Nathalie Cox

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview:
Adar Beck	...	Dark
Gemma Chan	...	Chinese Girl
Nathalie Cox	...	Blonde
John Lloyd Fillingham	...	Deaf
Chukwudi Iwuji	...	Black (as Chuk Iwuji)
Pollyanna McIntosh	...	Brunette
Luke Mably	...	White
Jimi Mistry	...	Brown
Colin Salmon	...	The Invigilator
Chris Carey	...	The Guard

Storyline

Eight talented candidates have reached the final stage of selection to join the ranks of a mysterious and powerful corporation. Entering a windowless room, an Invigilator gives them eighty minutes to answer one simple question. He outlines three rules they must obey or be disqualified: don't talk to him or the armed guard by the door, don't spoil their papers and don't leave the room. He starts the clock and leaves. The candidates turn over their question papers, only to find they're completely blank. After the initial confusion has subsided, one frustrated candidate writes 'I believe I deserve...,' and is promptly ejected for spoiling. The remaining candidates soon figure out they're permitted to talk to each other, and they agree to cooperate in order to figure out the question: then they can compete to answer it. At first they suspect the question may be hidden in their papers like a security marker in a credit card, and they figure out ways to change their environment to expose ...

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Plot Keywords:

room | invigilator | corporation | exam | rules | 

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Taglines:

80 minutes - 8 candidates - 1 answer - no question

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Genres:

Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [Japan]

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 June 2010 (Hong Kong)

Also Known As:

Egzamin

Filming Locations:

Elstree Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hazeldine Films, Bedlam Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

When Black takes the gun from the guard's holster it is a Glock, but when White takes it from him and checks the clip it turns into a Sig Sauer. When White puts the gun in the guard's hand it turns back into a Glock.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Brunette: I want this. I do. I want it.
Black: [grasping his pendant cross] I can do all things. *All* things.

User Reviews

exciting, topical thriller

I had the pleasure of seeing this pic at the recent Edinburgh Film Festival and it is certainly not The Apprentice. More like 12 Angry Men meets Cube.

Photographed in the impressive cinemascope screen shape and very sharply edited, the director takes us on a psychological journey where the characters, who are at first cagey, gradually open up to reveal their true identities. This manifests itself in various ways as the candidates gradually step up to bat and take each other on in a variety of ways. Some good, some bad, some horrific - but always interesting.

Perhaps a tad talky in the centre section but it builds to an exciting and clever climax that wields a distinct note of hope and positivity.