Tangerines (or) Mandariinid (Estonian, 2013)

If there ever was an award for achievement in casting, this film would win it hands down this year for the actors (just about 4 primary characters) are so apt for the roles. Be it the old Estonian, the younger Estonian, the Chechen Muslim mercenary or the Georgian stage actor, they all seem to be just living their lives oblivious of a camera capturing their activities.

While Margus has the least screen time but still scores with his timidity, Ivo majestically occupies the bulk of the running time. The way he introduces the two wounded soldiers, “Okay enemies.He is Ahmed and he is Nika”, the way he tastefully imitates Ahmed’s clap and the way he modulates his voice as per the situation are testimony to his talent.

The two soldiers, Giorgi Nakhashidze as Ahmed & Michael Meshki as Niko, impress in their given space. The scene in which they meet after partially recovering which ends up in the sudden throwing of the coffee cup is elevated by the wonderfully acting. The tension in the air in many such scenes is certainly palpable.

When two extremely men temporarily incapacitated due to war belonging to opposite sides are forced to live under the same roof under an assertive old farmer, one can imagine the kind of tension that would prevail. However what is more surprising is the way Zaza Urushadze’s writing brings about subtle conversations that grow into verbal jousts and finally escalate to them almost coming to blows with Ivo (LembitUlfsak) restraining them just in time.

The music in the film is very minimal and kudos to the composer, Niaz Diasamidze for abiding to the director’s vision as the script did not require any more music. But his one theme that is used repeatedly does a wonderful job of summarizing the feeling that the movie wants to convey. Class Act indeed!