Tangerines * * * *

Well first off I have to confess my ignorance of the politics in this area: Chechens and Georgians,  Estonians and Abkhazians .  This one invaded that one and this land traditionally belongs to the other one. To a bloke living in Australia it’s just all too confusing.  I don’t know who is right and who is wrong. I’m not being dismissive of the situation.  I’m sure for those living there it is no joke - obviously; after all, they’ll kill and die for it.    But fortunately you don’t need to know that much about the situation to appreciate this excellent film.   It is 1992 in Abkhazia and the troops are coming (don't’ know which ones) and most civilians have left the area.  Two older men, Ivo and Margus, stay behind because they hate to see the tangerine harvest go to waste.  Margus is the grower of tangerines and Ivo is the maker of wooden crates to pack them in. The area is cold and wet. The houses are very basic. The food is simple.  You get the impression a hot bath would be a rare and heavenly experience.   Four soldiers from opposing sides end up in conflict in Margus’s orchard. Two die and two survive. Margus helps Ivo bury the dead and  Ivo takes the two survivors back to his home and commences to  nurse them back to health.  The village doctor is due to leave any day but fortunately he can find the time to visit these two wounded soldiers and give Ivo medicine and advice on nursing before he leaves. Each soldier swears to kill the other on recuperation. But In appropriate respect and gratitude to Ivo who is nursing them back to health the two soldiers agree not to engage in conflict under his roof. Ivo is not a philosopher and he does not preach or lecture.  If he sends out any kind of message it is through his kindness and his brusque fatherly admonishment of the two soldiers when they argue. It is almost as if he gives them a verbal clip over the ears.  Ivo does not seem to have a “side”.  He has lost his own son in conflict “Whose side was he on?” asks one of the soldiers? “Does it matter?” says Ivo. Ivo’s home is  visited by forces from opposing sides and in order to survive each soldier has to pretend to be a part of the other side.  Ultimately the two soldiers begin to respect each other as humans and their background, language and “side” becomes less and less significant, The majority of the story is played by four men - two older and two younger.  This is a moving, intelligent and very good film.  It’s not showing in too many places (though it is probably big in Abkhazia), but if it's at your local its well worth going to see.