Tangerines 2015

On the chilly Christmas Eve, Sin-Dee Rella (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez), a fiery transgender sex worker just released from a 28-day stint in jail, reunites with her friend Alexandra (Mya Taylor) at a donut shop in Hollywood’s vibrant streets. The reunion is marked by a candid conversation, as Alexandra reveals that Sin-Dee’s boyfriend and pimp, Chester (James Ransone), has been unfaithfully indulging in a clandestine affair with a cisgender woman, whose name starts with the letter D. Sin-Dee’s ire is ignited, prompting her to storm out of the shop to track down Chester and his mistress. Alexandra, preferring to steer clear of drama, declines to join Sin-Dee on her quest for vengeance.

Meanwhile, Alexandra tends to her professional life by distributing flyers for her musical performance that evening at The Mary’s bar, set to begin at 7 pm. However, a heated argument erupts when a client refuses to pay her the agreed-upon $40, citing his own lack of satisfaction as justification. The dispute is eventually broken up by the authorities.

As night falls, Razmik (Karren Karagulian), an honest and hardworking Armenian cab driver, navigates the city’s streets, ferrying a diverse array of passengers, including two inebriated individuals who unfortunately soil his vehicle. His day concludes with a peculiar encounter: ejecting a prostitute from his taxi after discovering she is not transgender. Razmik later meets Alexandra at a car wash, where they share a fleeting moment of intimacy before he heads home to enjoy Christmas dinner with his family.

Alexandra arrives at The Mary’s bar for her performance, only to find the venue eerily empty. Her evening takes an unexpected turn when Sin-Dee bursts in, having just discovered the location of Chester and his mistress from an acquaintance at a nearby food line offering $20 Christmas vouchers. Sin-Dee’s wrath is further fueled by the revelation that Chester has been secretly seeing Dinah (Mickey O’Hagan), a woman she had previously met at a brothel.

Sin-Dee and Dinah embark on a journey to confront Chester, who is reportedly waiting in line at Donut Time. Nash (Ian Edwards), another pimp, provides Sin-Dee with valuable intel about Chester’s whereabouts. As the trio approaches Donut Time, Alexandra performs her musical set, though it remains a subdued affair due to the sparse crowd.

In the aftermath of her performance, Sin-Dee and Dinah reconcile in the bar bathroom, where they share a moment of intimacy over crystal meth and makeup. The evening concludes with the trio’s arrival at Donut Time, where they are prepared to confront Chester once and for all.

As the night wears on, Razmik’s duplicity is exposed as he sneaks out of his family gathering to attend Alexandra’s performance under the guise of having to work. However, upon arriving at the venue, he finds himself too late and sets off in search of Sin-Dee, only to discover she has already left for Donut Time. Suspecting foul play, Ashken, Razmik’s mother-in-law, enlists the help of Karo, another Armenian cab driver with intimate knowledge of Razmik’s clandestine activities. As it turns out, Karo is initially hesitant but eventually agrees to aid Ashken in tracking down her son-in-law.

Meanwhile, Sin-Dee, Alexandra, and Dinah converge on the donuts shop, where tensions reach a boiling point as Sin-Dee confronts Chester about his true intentions. He reveals that he is engaged to Sin-Dee, news that sends Dinah into a tailspin of despair as she realizes she has been deceived. Just as Razmik arrives on the scene, seeking to rekindle things with Sin-Dee, he finds himself being followed by Ashken.

As the situation spirals out of control, Ashken’s initial assumption that Razmik is hiding his marijuana use gives way to Chester’s careless revelation about his predilection for sex workers. This newfound information sparks a heated argument between the eight individuals involved, culminating in their ejection from the shop by Mamasan, the proprietor.

Razmik and his family retreat to their apartment, where they are met with the ire of Yeva, Razmik’s wife, who has arrived with their infant daughter. As the drama unfolds, Dinah finds herself rejected at the brothel and is forced to face the harsh realities of her situation.

Outside Donut Time, Chester delivers a devastating blow as he reveals that he has also shared intimate moments with Alexandra, leaving Sin-Dee reeling from the betrayal. In the aftermath, she takes to the streets in search of clients, only to be met with ridicule and transphobic slurs, her dignity further eroded.

As the night wears on, Alexandra intervenes, whisking Sin-Dee away to a nearby laundromat to clean up and change into a new wig, courtesy of Alexandra’s own supply. As they wait for their clothes to wash, Sin-Dee is forced to confront the harsh realities of her existence, her resilience tested by the cruel whims of fate.