"Tangerines" (2013 release from Estonia; 87 min.) brings the story of a conflict being played out in the early 90s in the countryside of Georgia (the country not the state), involving Georgians, Chechens, and Estonians who have lived in Georgia for many years. As the movie opens, the fighting is going on and we learn that many Estonian families have returned to Estonia. Not Ivo of his neighbor Margus, however. Margus is about to harvest his crop of tangerines, and Ivo builds crates to held them. Then one day, small groups of Georgians and Chechens are fighting nearby Ivo's house and as it happens, one Georgian and one Chechen survive. Ivo sees no other solution than to take them both into his house. At this point we're a good 10 min. into the movie but to tell you more would spoil your viewing experience, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out.
Couple of comments: first, despite the occasional fighting, please do not mistake this for a "war" or worse, an "action" movie. Most of the film plays out in Ivo's house and the burning question is: once they both realize what their situation is and, more importantly, who the other guy is, what will the Georgian and Chechen guys do? (No worries, I'm not going to spoil). So this movie has as much a feel of a theater play than it feels like a movie. Having now seen "Tangerines", I have now seen all 5 movies that were nominated for this year's Oscar for Best Foreign Movie, and I must admit that, given the strong crop of contenders, I'd probably rank "Tangerines" at the 5th of this group. That does NOT mean that "Tangerines" is not a good movie, it's just that the other 4 were even better.
I saw "Tangerines" in early May at the Landmark Bethesda Row Cinema (suburban Washington, DC). The matinée screening where I saw this was PACKED, somewhat to my surprise I will admit. But I think this is great news, as it proves that there is an audience out there for top-notch quality foreign movies. If you are in the mood for a tense theater play-reminding movie that examines the human side of conflicts of war, I'd readily suggest you check out "Tangerines", be it in the theater, on VOD, or eventually on DVD/Blu-ray.
Couple of comments: first, despite the occasional fighting, please do not mistake this for a "war" or worse, an "action" movie. Most of the film plays out in Ivo's house and the burning question is: once they both realize what their situation is and, more importantly, who the other guy is, what will the Georgian and Chechen guys do? (No worries, I'm not going to spoil). So this movie has as much a feel of a theater play than it feels like a movie. Having now seen "Tangerines", I have now seen all 5 movies that were nominated for this year's Oscar for Best Foreign Movie, and I must admit that, given the strong crop of contenders, I'd probably rank "Tangerines" at the 5th of this group. That does NOT mean that "Tangerines" is not a good movie, it's just that the other 4 were even better.
I saw "Tangerines" in early May at the Landmark Bethesda Row Cinema (suburban Washington, DC). The matinée screening where I saw this was PACKED, somewhat to my surprise I will admit. But I think this is great news, as it proves that there is an audience out there for top-notch quality foreign movies. If you are in the mood for a tense theater play-reminding movie that examines the human side of conflicts of war, I'd readily suggest you check out "Tangerines", be it in the theater, on VOD, or eventually on DVD/Blu-ray.