Sean Baker's 'Tangerine' isn't just a film; it's a jolt of raw, vibrant energy. A Christmas Eve story with a ferocious heart, it shatters filmmaking conventions while delivering a poignant and surprisingly hilarious slice of life from the streets of LA.
Shot entirely on iPhones, the film crackles with visual immediacy. We're not just watching Sin-Dee Rella (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez) and Alexandra (Mya Taylor) tear through Tinseltown on a quest for vengeance and truth - we're right there with them. Every grainy frame, every frantic cut, and every oversaturated color pulsates with the rhythm of their world.
Baker and co-writer Chris Bergoch don't flinch from the grittiness of their characters' lives. Sin-Dee and Alexandra are transgender sex workers navigating a world that's both exploitative and indifferent. Yet, there's no pity to be found here, only blazing humanity. Rodriguez and Taylor deliver performances that are both uproarious and deeply affecting, bringing Sin-Dee's whirlwind fury and Alexandra's quiet strength to life.
'Tangerine' has its rough edges, which is part of its power. It's a film bursting with the joy of discovery and a rebellious spirit. There are scenes of outrageous humor mixed with moments of startling vulnerability. It's this refusal to be neatly categorized that makes 'Tangerine' feel so authentic.
While its technical innovation is impressive, what lingers is the film's big heart. Underneath the brash humor and whirlwind plot lies a story about friendship, loyalty, and the relentless search for love and respect. 'Tangerine' forces us to see the unseen, the marginalized, and find the beauty and resilience in their lives.
'Tangerine' is essential viewing - a bold, boundary-pushing film that proves cinema can be as vibrant and unpredictable as the people it depicts.
Shot entirely on iPhones, the film crackles with visual immediacy. We're not just watching Sin-Dee Rella (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez) and Alexandra (Mya Taylor) tear through Tinseltown on a quest for vengeance and truth - we're right there with them. Every grainy frame, every frantic cut, and every oversaturated color pulsates with the rhythm of their world.
Baker and co-writer Chris Bergoch don't flinch from the grittiness of their characters' lives. Sin-Dee and Alexandra are transgender sex workers navigating a world that's both exploitative and indifferent. Yet, there's no pity to be found here, only blazing humanity. Rodriguez and Taylor deliver performances that are both uproarious and deeply affecting, bringing Sin-Dee's whirlwind fury and Alexandra's quiet strength to life.
'Tangerine' has its rough edges, which is part of its power. It's a film bursting with the joy of discovery and a rebellious spirit. There are scenes of outrageous humor mixed with moments of startling vulnerability. It's this refusal to be neatly categorized that makes 'Tangerine' feel so authentic.
While its technical innovation is impressive, what lingers is the film's big heart. Underneath the brash humor and whirlwind plot lies a story about friendship, loyalty, and the relentless search for love and respect. 'Tangerine' forces us to see the unseen, the marginalized, and find the beauty and resilience in their lives.
'Tangerine' is essential viewing - a bold, boundary-pushing film that proves cinema can be as vibrant and unpredictable as the people it depicts.