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TANGERINES Send This Review to a Friend
Despite the violence that occurs in “Tangerines,” which was a best foreign language nominee in the Oscar race, the film is a moving story about the potential for humanity in the midst of brutality. Its inherent message is that human beings can respond to one another and break barriers when afforded the opportunity.
Written and directed by Zaza Urushadze, “Tangerines” is set in the former Soviet Republic of Georgia during the civil war that raged there in 1992. Two Estonians living and working in the Abkhazia area are caught in the conflict.
Ivo, impressively played by Lembit Ulfsak, makes crates. His friend and neighbor Margus, nicely played by Elmo Nüganen, grows tangerines that fill the crates. Their lives are interrupted by a shootout between Georgian and Chechen fighters. Ivo decides to befriend and help two wounded survivors. One is Ahmed, a Chechen, robustly played by Giorgi Nakhashidze. The other is Niko (Mikheil Meskhi), a Georgian. Ahmed is filled with rage and announces that he will kill Niko when they are away from Ivo’s home.
But gradually the barriers break down between the opponents, as they learn to regard one another as human beings. The film is low key and convincingly realistic in expressing the film’s message.
As we watch, we know that violence will intrude, as it does when another group of fighters arrives. What happens after the new confrontation is ultimately deeply touching, and we are left with appreciation for a film well directed and acted with something important to say about the human condition. A Samuel Goldwyn Films release, Reviewed April 19, 2015.
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