Oct. 16, 2013|Estonia, Georgia|87 Min.|Not Rated
Genre: Drama;War
Description: In 2013, the movie *Tangerines* tells a compelling story set in a rural village of ethnic Estonians in Abkhazia, a Russian-backed separatist region in newly independent Georgia. Amid the chaos of war, Ivo (Lembit Ulfsak) and his friend Margus (Elmo Nüganen) are the only ones left from their once-thriving community, as everyone else has fled to Estonia. Margus remains to harvest his lucrative tangerine crop, while Ivo, a carpenter, stays to make wooden crates for the unpicked tangerines, though he keeps his true reasons for staying hidden.
The plot takes a dramatic turn when two Chechen mercenaries fighting for the Abkhaz separatists arrive, demanding food from Ivo before leaving peacefully. However, they clash with Georgian soldiers near Margus’ house, leaving only one survivor from each side: Ahmed (Giorgi Nakashidze), the Chechen, and Nika (Mikheil Meskhi), the Georgian. Both are severely wounded, and Ivo takes them into his home to nurse them back to health.
Despite their sworn enemies’ vow to kill each other once recovered, Ivo secures a promise from both to refrain from violence under his roof. As the two begin to heal, tension fills the small house. Over time, however, they start to see each other’s humanity and honor. Guided by Ivo’s wisdom, their relationship evolves from hatred and hostility to mutual respect and camaraderie.
When Abkhaz soldiers visit, Ivo convinces Ahmed to claim that Nika is also a Chechen who has lost his ability to speak due to his injuries. Meanwhile, Margus faces despair as a military patrol fails to help harvest his tangerines. Although the Abkhaz soldiers nearby promise to assist, the village is later shelled, destroying Margus’ property. Ahmed offers Margus money he earned as a mercenary, but Margus refuses to accept it, rejecting wealth earned through violence.
Cast director: Zaza Urushadze
Cast actor: Lembit Ulfsak, Giorgi Nakashidze, Elmo Nüganen, Misha Meskhi, Raivo Trass, Zura Begalishvili, Jano Izoria, Gia Gogishvili, Vamekh Jangidze, Aleko Begalishvili
Original name: Mandariinid