More sinners than saints themselves, Kitana Kiki Rodriguez and Mya Taylor nonetheless pull at our heartstrings because so little of the film and their performances prove seem put-on. The slim story of shadiness leaves for an economical narrative that puts character at the forefront. In this R-rated drama currently available on Netflix, a working girl (Rodriguez) tears through Tinseltown on Christmas Eve searching for the pimp who broke her heart. Characters played by non-actors portraying real-as-hell drama that's captured on something that you most likely have in your pocket. A premise not many can relate to but driven by very sympathetic characters. Drama wrenched from a simple electric premise. Everything about this non-flavor-of-the-week brims with reality. It was a neat, slice-of-life picture and it will stick in my mind for some time.Ī dramedy shot on iPhones (smart phones augmented with equipment enhancing the filmmaking process but phones nonetheless), Tangerine tastes sweeter than a gimmick because the story smacks of a genuine experience. These are sad, lonely, and doomed characters and many of the longer and more somber scenes convey the simple tragedy, while not becoming overbearing. There is a healthy dose of dark humor to be had, which helps a lot with some of the serious themes. Obviously, authenticity is a plus, but the manner in which Tangerine was filmed and released shows the endless possibilities of independent filmmaking. Our two protagonists (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez and Mya Taylor) are also played by actual transgender women, one of whom was a former sex worker. with many of the "characters" on screen being real people who live and work there. The film was shot entirely on a couple of iPhones with camera adapters on location in L.A. Meanwhile her long-suffering friend has to prevent violence and kidnapping while trying to perform a show on Christmas Eve. She then sets out to extract revenge and answers. One of our leads finds out upon being released from jail that her pimp/boyfriend has cheated on her with a white female. (Yeah a studio would never greenlight this kind of film.) Tangerine is near plotless, but still has a light driving narrative in the manner of a Richard Linklater film. with two African-American transgender prostitutes as our main characters. I present to you Tangerine, a low-key dramedy set in the rougher parts of modern L.A.
Leave it to clever independent filmmaking to push the edge. Until then Hollywood will continue to tiptoe around the issue, occasionally releasing decent and well-intentioned, but ultimately safe pieces such as The Danish Girl. The number of films centering on transgender people is quite few, but as the twenty-first century advances, I suspect the subject will enter a phase of normalcy.
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