The Estonian-Georgian movie, “Tangerines” (“Mandariinid” in Estonian), has been nominated for the Golden Globe award in best foreign film category.
“Tangerines” has become one of the most, if not the most, successful film involving Estonian filmmakers, notching up tens of international awards since 2013.
The movie tells a story that takes place in 1992 during the war in Abkhazia in an Estonian village that was situated there. In the village, whose residents have fled from war, injured fighters from two opposite sides of the battle front happen to all be staying in the same house of an Estonian elder. The leading roles are played by Estonian actors Lembit Ulfsak and Elmo Nüganen, and Georgian actors Giorgi Nakhashidze and Mihhail Meskhi.
The film was produced by Estonian film production company Allfilm and Georgian production company Cinema 24.
Estonian World’s film critic Birgit Drenkhan said last year that “Tangerines” had a potential to take Estonian filmmaking to a completely new level.
“For me, this film opens a new chapter in the Estonian cinematic history. “Tangerines”, although war is always around, is not a war film. War just helps bring out the most important message (as white looks brighter in front of black). The story is about being human and, no matter what, believing in the human kind. The story is balanced, without being too dramatic or brutally funny. A serious subject is dealt with through subtle humour. The director knows psychology and how to manipulate with the viewer, so he takes us to an emotional rollercoaster by making us both laugh and cry. It is also an artistically beautiful movie with nice nature scenes, impressionistic sunsets and close-ups of an old man’s hands making woodwork,” Drenkhan said.
The Golden Globe award is an American accolade bestowed by the 93 members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, recognising excellence in film and television, both domestic and foreign. The Golden Globe award is often seen as the precursor for the most important event in the film industry – the Academy Awards.
“Tangerines” is competing for a foreign language film Golden Globe against “Force Majeure Turist” (Sweden), “Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem Gett” (Israel); “Ida” (Poland/Denmark) and “Leviathan” (Russia).
The 72nd Golden Globe awards will be presented on 11 January 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.
