Synopsis

In the early 1990s, the province of Abkhazia wants to break away from Georgia. As a result, almost all Estonian farmers who had settled in a rural village situated in the conflict area to grow tangerines return to their homeland. Only two men stay to save the crop: Ivo and Margus. The war does not spare their farmyards either, though, and leaves two badly wounded men in Ivo's garden: Ahmed, a Chechen mercenary on the separatists' side, and Niko, a Georgian volunteer. The two sworn enemies must promise not to kill each other for as long as they live under Ivo's roof, where he nurses them. At first, keeping their word is everything but easy. But the more time they are forced to spend in each other's presence, the weaker becomes their resentment. However, peace is still far off. Tangerines is the first Estonian Oscar candidate in the country's cinematic history. Poetic and humanist, the film shows characters who live in difficult times and under extremely complicated circumstances – and still do not lose their humanity. The compelling and moving film is a piece of outstanding old-fashioned craftsmanship which especially captivates its audience with its cast's performance, showing the absurdities of war in a compact form.

Guests

Elmo Nüganen

Elmo Nüganen  
Director 1944 and actor Tangerines
In Vienna: October 1-4