An Estonian-Georgian co-produced film “Tangerines“, has been nominated for a Golden Globe award. Winners of the Golden Globe Awards are selected by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association each year. “Tangerines” is also the Estonian entry into this year’s Oscars.
The film is set in an Estonian village in Abkhazia during the early 1990’s war with Georgia. Two villagers – Ivo and his neighbour Margus – are the only villagers who haven’t fled their homes for safety in Estonia. Margus has stayed behind to help his friend and farmer, Ivo, with the annual tangerine harvest.
The war’s front lines arrive at Ivo’s doorstep when shootout between Georgian and Russia-backed North Caucasian forces leaves several soldiers dead. The men take in two survivors from opposite sides of the conflict. As the men try to overcome the conflict within their home, they overcome geographic and ethnic and religious differences.
The film was co-produced by Estonian production company Allfilm and was shot by award winning Estonian cinematographer, Rein Kotov.
The film’s Estonian producer, Ivo Felt, said that he was overwhelmed by the news and that his Georgian director, Zaza Urušadze had “called him screaming” after the announcement was made in Hollywood.
Swedish film “Force Majeure” was also nominated.
