Displaying items by tag: Josephine Park

MANGO

Denmark, 2025, 96 minutes, Colour.

Josephine Park, Dar Salim, Josephine Hojhbjerg, Sara Jimenez, Paprika Steen.

Directed by Mehdi Avaz.

We all have our dreams. However, some of us are driven by our dreams of success, power, making money – which can turn into a nightmare. But, there are other happy dreams, our hopes and our life.

Mango, a Danish film, combines the elements of the financial dream with romantic comedy, takes us from the busy world of Copenhagen in hotels and restaurants to the sunny mountains, the village life, the mango plantations of Spain, Malaga.

Yes, we have seen many similar films but when one like this is so pleasant, why not another!

The focus is on the efficient and busy Loerka demanded by her imperious boss to go to Malaga, persuade the mango plantation manager to sell out (he is in financial difficulties) and organise the building of a luxury hotel. Loerka takes her unwilling daughter, who has just missed out on a place in an architecture course, and they fly (and an awkward sequence where a mother wants her three-year-old to look at the window and see the plane take off but has an aisle seat and logo is unmoved and unmovable, her daughter exasperated).

The owner of the plantation, Alex, turns out to be charming, a lawyer who is maintaining the plantation after a disastrous fire, is well liked by his workers. And, an immediate clash with logo.

The audience is immersed in Spain, tours of the mandala plantation, the audience almost tasting them, battle of the sexes, battle of wits, concessions on both sides, sense of betrayal, disappointment – except for the daughter who finds a friend and discovers that life in Malaga can be quite happy and exhilarating.

One possibility is for the Danish company to manage the plantation and have a hotel on the property. But, is this a way to fulfil one’s dreams? Of course, there will be a pleasant ending for both logo and Alex – and the two young women as well. And, probably, the sequel would be quite nice…

1. The title, the focus, the plantation, the fruit of the harvest, the threat to the plantation, business and finance? The fruit, the look, the taste, the drinks, products?
2. The Danish production, the Iranian background of the writer-director, the Copenhagen settings, the city? The contrast with Spain, the scenery, the mountains, the village, the plantation? The musical score? And the range of American songs throughout, and the lyrics highlighting the themes?
3. The situation, Loerka, her efficiency, the running of the hotel, the opening, success? Joan, the financial background, her plans, her personality and demands, the plan for Malaga? Ordering Loerka to go?
4. Loerka, her age, career, personality, relationship with her former husband, his marriage and his wife’s pregnancy, her relationship with her daughter, the promised holiday, the daughter missing out on the architectural place? Tensions, on the plane, the issue of not giving up the seat to the woman with the young child? Agnes and her reaction?
5. The task, Malaga, arrival, the streets of steps, the hotel? Loerka going to meet Alex, the mangoade, her response? The initial personality clash?
6. Alex, the back story, lawyer, the fire, the deaths, Paula and his care for her, continuing the plantation, the financial difficulties, the loan? The need to sell? Unwilling? His personality, working with the pickers, popular?
7. The feast of the mangoes, the gathering, the crowds, celebration, singing, speeches?
8. Agnes, her age, resenting her mother, the holiday, missing out on the architectural place, at the plantation, meeting Paula, the tour with her, their bonding, the next day, the outings, the watersports, and feeling at home?
9. Joan, the pressure from Copenhagen, the pressure on Loerka, her plans, the visits, sparring, Loerka and the tour, tasting the mangoes, the situation? Her plan, combining hotel and plantation?
10. Paula and Agnes, fostering the relationship between Alex and Loerka, the episodes, the talking, the night? Alex overhearing the plans, angry? Loerka and Agnes returning to Copenhagen, the effect on Loerka, the confrontation with Joan? Being fired?
11. Alex, signing the contract? 14 days grace? Loerka returning, her going and picking the fruit, Alex suspicious?
12. A year later, Alex and the plantation flourishing, Loerka selling her apartment and supplying the finance, Paula and wanting to be a pilot and her training, Agnes and the designs of the houses, the buildings on the site of the plantation?
13. A likeable film, characters, situation, anti-big businesses ruthlessness, in favour of individuals in dreams? Audiences to be happy were a sequel to be made?