Rating: 3/5
Having seen my fair share of short iPhone-made videos, I was sceptical about how high the cinematic quality of an entire film would be. Baker’s use of an iPhone aptly reflects the fast-paced movements of the characters and the dialogue, making for a dynamic experience. But while Tangerine has a quirkiness, I couldn’t help but long for a smooth, cinematic experience rather than the discordant one this film created.
The film opens at a doughnut shop — a place the audience becomes increasingly familiar with — as the protagonists walk up and down the streets of Hollywood looking for sex work. After being released from prison, two transgender women — Sin-Dee Rella (Kiki Kitana Rodriguez) and Alexandra (Mya Taylor) — reunite. During their catch up, Sin-Dee learns from Alexandra that her prince and pimp, Chester (James Ransone), is not a Prince Charming after all. While she was in prison, he’d been cheating on her with a “fish”, slang for a cisgender woman (someone who was assigned female at birth and identifies as such). In a mad rage, Sin-Dee embarks on a quest to find this “fish”, Dinah (Mickey O’Hagan).
After trying to calm Sin-Dee down, Alexandra leaves to promote her performance at a nightclub and to make some business transactions. The audience is also introduced to Razmik (Karren Karagulian), a taxi driver whose conversations with his passengers offer a brief break from Sin-Dee’s tumultuous life. However, Sin-Dee soon tracks down Dinah and hilariously drags her across the city so that Sin-Dee can confront Chester about his infidelity. This eventual confrontation marks the point where the main protagonists come together — everything begins to intersect and more conflicts arise.
While the handycam style of the film was interesting, it unfortunately led to some headaches. At times, the scenes felt choppy and the transitions were harsh. However, the film’s last few moments were not only smooth but also thoughtful — depicting the characters reflecting on the day’s events and attempting to resolve their problems. Sin-Dee and Alexandra’s last scene together is especially heartwarming, showcasing their care for each other in a way that seems simple but is, indeed, a grand gesture.
Tangerine could be accused of being a senseless comedy, but — with vivacious characters and a novel filming style — it isn’t without depth.