Tangerines (2013)

• Year: 2013
• Released: 17 Apr 2015
• Country: Estonia, Georgia
• Adwords: Nominated for 1 Oscar. 12 wins & 10 nominations total
• IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2991224/
• Rotten Tomatoes: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/tangerines
• Metacritics: https://www.metacritic.com/movie/tangerines
• Available in: 720p, 1080p,
• Language: Estonian, Russian, Georgian
• MPA Rating: Not Rated
• Genre: Drama, War
• Runtime: 87 min
• Writer: Tatjana Mülbeier, Zaza Urushadze, Artur Veeber
• Director: Zaza Urushadze
• Cast: Lembit Ulfsak, Elmo Nüganen, Giorgi Nakashidze
• Keywords: gun, 1990s, photograph, bullet wound, house fire,

	8.1/10
	73/100
	88% – Critics
	89% – Audience

Tangerines Storyline

War in Georgia, Abkhazia region 1992: local Abkhaz are fighting to break free from Georgia. Estonian village between the mountains has become empty, almost everyone has returned to their homeland, only 2 men have stayed: Ivo and Margus. But Margus will leave as soon as he has harvested his crops of tangerines. In a bloody conflict in their miniature village wounded men are left behind, and Ivo is forced to take them in. But they are from opposite sides of the war. This is touching anti-war story about Estonians who find themselves in the middle of someone else’s war. How do they handle it? How do the enemies act under third-party roof?

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Tangerines Movie Reviews

A strong human values film, with the war intruded and in the background

Ethnic and/or religious armed conflicts are always particularly painful, “realpolitik” vs. history, perceptions vs. actual circumstances, victims vs. profiteers, etc. The War in Abkhazia (1992–93) was one of the first post-Soviet gory confrontations, with tens of thousands dead, ethnic cleansing, and included the biggest successful rescue operation so far by the Estonian government to save compatriots, not even citizens, as their forebears settled there in 19th century… Many smaller nations, like Estonians, did not choose sides, they just tried to survive and carry on, splendidly expressed through tangerines in the film, but remote weaponry reaches everywhere and does not ask questions (Estonians were not considered hostile by both sides).

All this is nicely presented in this Estonian-Georgian film, where Estonian actors used are all famous film actors (the Georgian ones were unfamiliar to me, but they were convincing), and characters seem very realistic. As far as I know, the topic of honour and keeping word are holy among the Caucasus nations, enabling to depict scenes and events odd and even improbable among the Western, “civilized” nations. The venue is limited to the remains of a village, but as everything is so properly constructed and performed, you do not feel embattled, and can follow and emphasize with all characters, significantly widening the audience and letting ponder on and over the essence of warfare.

PS The film is totally “male”, only actors were present, no actresses, but the less than 1,5 hours pass tautly.

don’t really buy Ahmed’s turn

After the start of 1992 conflict between Georgia and the Russian-supported Abkhazia, most of the long-established Estonian settlements have been abandoned. Ivo has remained to build crates for his neighbor Margus’ tangerines. The conflict arrives at their door step and they have two wounded fighters from opposing sides. Ahmed is a Chechen mercenary and Niko is the Georgian. Villager Juhan comes to treat the wounded.

I applaud the movie’s message. There is only one problem. I don’t buy Ahmed’s change of heart. The movie starts with great tension as Ivo deal with his unasked-for Chechen guests. Everything goes well until Ahmed falls under Ivo’s spell and change his character. It doesn’t seem earned by the movie. Despite some darker turns, this feels more like an attempted fable. Also the Georgian conflict feels quaint as the world slide further and further into darkness.

“Don’t be surprised. There are people worth their word.”

I’ve always been of the opinion that if you took any number of children at birth of diverse nationalities, ethnicities and religions, and allowed them to grow up together without any preconceived biases, they would grow up respectful and tolerant of each other, and more importantly, attain a friendship among themselves. I think that’s what’s at the heart of “Tangerines” once you strip away such connotations as ‘Chechen’, ‘Georgian’, ‘Abkhazian’ and ‘Russian’. Because after all is said and done, people are just people, and have no reason to hate each other at face value. It’s only when one’s particular background is revealed that someone of a differing circumstance begins to exhibit prejudice and bias. The film, and the actions of Ivo (Lembit Ulfsak), Margus (Elmo Nüganen) and doctor Juhan (Raivo Trass), in overlooking the enmity between Chechen Ahmed (Giorgi Nakashidze) and Georgian Nika (Misha Meskhi), help the two enemies see each other as humans on the opposite side of a struggle for which there will ultimately be no winners or losers when it comes to the finality of death. Particularly poignant is the final scene, in which we learn the reason why Ivo will not return to Estonia, while offering his assurance to Ahmed that he would just as soon have buried him next to his own son in the same manner as Nika (only a little further away, to add an element of ironic humor to the story). I thought this was a thoughtful and provocative film with a discernible message of tolerance in a hate filled world, though at the same time, I have no illusions that a message as simple as the one delivered here, would have any impact on the those whose ideologies take precedence over humanity.