Mangoes are usually associated with India, so it was a surprise to discover that the luscious summer staple, that gives this film its title, is also cultivated in Spain.
In Mehdi Avaz’s Danish film (dubbed and with subtitles on Netflix) the leading lady heads to just such a plantation.Lærke (Josephine Park), a workaholic hotel manager, is sent to a remote mango farm in Spain by her eccentric boss to persuade the owner to sell, so that their company can tear down the orchard and build a luxury hotel.
Lærke is forced to cancel a vacation with her sullen teenage daughter, who is understandably furious. When they arrive at the beautiful town, Lærke meets the plantation owner Alex (Dar Salim), and there’s instant dislike. In spite of being neck deep in debt, he refuses to sell, because he has emotional ties to the place. Also the local community has embraced the outsider and he considers them his family.
While Lærke and Alex spar, Agnes becomes instant besties with his young ward, Paula (Sara Jiminez); while she starts to enjoy the beauty of the landscape with the point-of-view of an aspiring architect, she also softens her attitude towards her mother. The healing of this relationship is easier to achieve than making Alex drop his guard.
The film is oversweet, but also enjoyable–like the director’s earlier film Toscana, this one too moves on a predictable track but the sun-drenched scenery is the real star, in contrast to the cold and rain in Denmark. The finca (farmhouse), where Lærke and Agnes stay is a dream location.
Josephine Park and Dar Salim don’t look like conventional romcom stars—but they have a strong chemistry and deliver charming performances in formulaic roles– following the expected arc of initial bickering giving way to reluctant bonding and eventually, a life-changing romance. Lærke, who believed relationships were not her forte and had left her daughter to be raised by her good-natured divorced husband, discovers there is more to life than career advancement. And Alex learns to let go of his tragic past. The young women achieve their career dreams and all’s well, as it ought to be in a film like this, that offers comfort, familiarity, and visual candy instead of plot twists and surprises.
Mango
Directed by Mehdi Avaz
Cast: Josephine Parks, Dar Salim, Josephine Højbjerg and others.
On Netflix
