Tangerines is a film neither character-driven nor plot-driven, instead it's a film powered by symbolic characters heading towards its moral. It compartmentalises the war in several rooms at Ivo's house, a neutral Estodian who picks tangerines for a living, as he cares for two wounded men both from either sides of the war. It's a very interesting concept for a film, perhaps one that would work very well for the stage, but it feels like it needs a wiser writer behind the pen. What could be thoroughly profound or feverishly tense is simplified and conflict is shown through passive aggression. However, it doesn't make the bonds of the men any less touching even if not as identifiable. Despite the majority of the film being calm and dialogue driven, its intense scenes certainly make up for it. The film's finest aspect is its rich photography, and the film knows it too as it constantly glides through the picture making the small scale very cinematic. I do wish the distracting score didn't cut through the powerful moments though, it was one step too far. Although Tangerines may be unfamiliar territory for some regarding the war, but its pacifist message is one that we can all empathise with.
7/10
7/10