Tangerines (2013)

Plot Spoilers Set in 1992 we meet Ivo who is an ethnic Estonian living in the Apkhezeti region of Gergia. The war has driven most of the village away but Ivo remains with his friend Margus to harvest a tangerine crop. The war soon arrives at their doorstep and Ivo and Margus are faced with two injured soldiers – one from either side. They take them both in and care for both.The problem is that Ivo has now brought the war under his roof and he will have to deal with the consequences as best he can. Now this is one of those films' that is both simple and complex. Simple in that it is dealing with the often seemly black and white situation of a conflict – you have to be on one side or the other. And it is complex in that it shows the very complex issues of 'grey area' that arise when kindness and decent humanity are placed before all.This is a genuinely moving film that has a great anti war message at its heart but it is also very positive in many ways. Brilliantly acted by all – Lembit Ulfsak as Ivo is particularly effective. It is also simply but effectively shot and is a testament to small budgets that can be devastatingly brilliant. This is why World cinema and new European cinema should be applauded – absolutely stunning.

No one should miss this film. I agree with other reviewers here, it's an easy 10. Sets out to accomplish a valuable goal, and does so very convincingly, very gracefully.Each character is very interesting and well acted. As in any significant narrative, the characters actually develop before your eyes, and change.The setting, the landscape is very beautiful. Excellent music suiting the region. Nice, subtle touches of humor despite the grimness of what transpires.Hope this one becomes more well-known, by word of mouth.

Tangerines is a simple story of people trying to hold to the normal life when everything around them is not.In one of the scenes an old character Ivo replies "Cinema is a big Fraud" to a notion that truck explodes when fell off the hill in cinema. The scene is simple yet gripping one, where all three characters (Johan, Margus and Ivo) are trying to hide the truck but they don't want to be seen.Margus a simple man trying not to ruin/ left a corpse of Tangerines in the war zone. Ivo, the main character, is helping him out but in doing he is trying to find a normal life. Everyone else has either left or about to left (like in case of Johan, the doctor). Then there is Ahmed (Chechen mercenary on the Abkhazian side) and Niko (Mikheil Meskhi), a Georgian volunteer. Because of fire exchange both are badly wounded and Ivo is not taking care of both of them. Both lives in Ivo's house with one condition where they won't kill each other in his house and after some time both want to let each other go. An indication of the deep desire of Ivo where he wants things to move back to normal and for some time they do seems normal but for only a short time.Every things changes when some passing Russian soldiers stop to inspect Ivo's house and they falsely accuse Ahmed of being on the other side and decide to execute him on the spot. Niko sees this from the window and opens fire on the armed soldiers in order to protect Ahmed. During the gun fire exchange a stray bullet kills the innocent Margus, and Niko is also killed after he steps out of the house thinking all are dead but was killed by a wounded officer laying on the ground. Ahmed then finishes off the wounded officer. Ahmed and Ivo then buries Margus and Miko.The movie shows us a desire of a normal person against the desire of waging war. Forgiveness versus ruthlessness. Humanity verses Incomprehension. Brotherhood and hatred are thrown together by the situation and we start questioning what is gained by fighting.Acting is very good but special praise for Ivo (Lembit Ulfsak), Ahmed (Giorgi Nakashidze ) and Miko (Mikheil Meskhi ). So as the sound track. And one must appreciate the landscapes used in the backdrop of story.

(major spoilers)Directed and written deftly by Zaza Urushadze, "Tangerines" is one of the best foreign movies I've seen in the last several years. It certainly is one of the best anti-war movies I've ever seen. Urushadze succeeds in his theme so well because he does not pull punches at all. Without giving away specifics too much it is a sharply written character drama with Lembit Ulfsak anchoring as a needed patriarch and mentor for war-torn foes, both Chechnyans and Georgians. Ulfsak's character's language is simple and sparse, though the real journey is for the Ahmed character, who by the end of the movie has an emotional enlightening, and through this we are wrenched with sorrow.