Gerald Wright's Movie Coverage
IRINA PALM MOVIE REVIEW
Directed by: Sam Garbarski
Written by: Philippe Blasband & Sam Garsbarski
Running time: 103 minutes
Genre: Drama
Distributor: Strand Releasing
MPAA Rating: R
Irina Palm focuses on the theme of unconditional love via a family oriented plot. In this new thought provoking story, Irina Palm stars Marianne Faithful as a middle-aged widowed grandmother named Maggie in London who is incapable of financially helping her grandson Ollie (Corey Burke) to get a lifesaving medical operation. As a result, she decides to earn money in a sex shop. Philippe Blasband & Sam Garsbarski collaborated before in the 2003 romantic film Tangos des Rashevski, Le about the assimilation of Belgium Jews struggling with their definition of Judaism.
Maggie (Marianne Faithful) is a loving mother and grandmother. She lives with the thought of her dead husband, and the love of her only son Tom (Kevin Bishop) and his wife Sarah (Siobhan Hewlett). When Maggie finds out that Tom and Sarah can't afford a special medical operation for their son Ollie, she decides to take a job. The problem is that she has been a housewife all of her life and finds herself unskilled for the present day employment market. Respectable and often prudish, she finds rejections at every corner of her job search. It seems Maggie, Tom and Sarah are out of options for the needed funds. However, one day Maggie unexpectedly finds work in the SoHo area of London (known as the red light district) at Mikky's. This is a sex club and the hesitant Maggie has doubts and fears when she is told she will be masturbating men behind a closed door. She's befriended by a coworker named Luisa who gives her "on-the-job" training.
Fortunately, the owner of the club Miki (Miki Manojlovic) takes an interest in Maggie. He gives her a lucrative salary upfront and transforms Maggie into the famous "Irina Palm". This pseudonym becomes a legend, and she is known for having the best hands in the business. With her new confidence and the loss of her past hypocrisy, she finds out that she is not useless in the employment ranks after all. In this sometimes dark comedy, Maggie manages to develop a sense of worth by finding a strange pride in her work and being able to hold a job that pays for her grandson's operation. This in her world is self worth. The message of the film is really that confidence and self-esteem is found within.
Marianne Faithful began her successful singing career in 1964 and has performed pop, rock & roll, blues and jazz over the years. During the 40 years as a performer she has also acted in theater, opera houses and television. In this captivating film, she gave a very moving portrayal of what a person would do for the love of her family. I was thrilled at every turn in the story and was never disappointed. Ms. Faithful was magnificent. Though the plot was hilarious at times, I was impressed by the mixture of moods the characters showed. I couldn't help but to laugh at the scenes when clients entered into the sex club cubicles for their sessions and the reaction of Maggie (AKA Irina Palm) as she performed her duties. I was overwhelmed with sympathy during the plot points that centered on young Ollie's illness, and confusion grabbed me in the scenes where Tom was angered over finding out about his mother's new profession. Miki Manojlovic's performance was masterful playing a dark tough guy character who had a heart of gold. This is a sleazy guy you had to love. I expect great things for this film.
This is a must see movie.
FILM RATING (A)
To view trailer of film, click here
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