DVD Mini Review - Irina Palm
Irina Palm, which is directed by Sam Garbarski, is a very good film. I understand that it was very well received when it played at the Berlin Film Festival. It had a very limited release here in the US earlier this year and I just had a chance to watch it on DVD.
Maggie (Marianne Faithfull) is a middle aged woman living in a village not too far from London. She is a widow with not much money. Her grandson Ollie (Corey Burke) is very ill. There is one last chance for him but the treatment is only available in Australia. Ollie's father Tom (Kevin Burke) who is Maggie's son and mother Sarah (Siobhan Hewlett) do not have the money for this. So Maggie must find a way to get the cash fast. And find a way she does. When she is in London she notices a club needs a hostess. Ah, but this is a different kind of hostess. As the club's owner Miki (Miki Manojlovic) explains the hostess will have to give hand jobs to customers.
At first Maggie is appalled but she decides to do it because the money is very good.
She becomes an expert in her field and has men lining up for her services. Miki gives her the name Irina Palm because of her great touch.
I won't say more about the plot. I will say that Faithfull is great in the role. You can read all of her emotions on her face. And Mamojlovic is terrific as well. He is not just some sleazy club owner. Things are more complex than that. The film, like the current release Frozen River, shows us that people will try many things when they are desparate for money. And although I don't think that what Maggie did was such a big deal - after all, she was not a criminal - it something that would make many of us uncomfortable.
Anyway, do yourself a favor and rent this film - unless you are a prude. Then I wouldn't bother.
Maggie (Marianne Faithfull) is a middle aged woman living in a village not too far from London. She is a widow with not much money. Her grandson Ollie (Corey Burke) is very ill. There is one last chance for him but the treatment is only available in Australia. Ollie's father Tom (Kevin Burke) who is Maggie's son and mother Sarah (Siobhan Hewlett) do not have the money for this. So Maggie must find a way to get the cash fast. And find a way she does. When she is in London she notices a club needs a hostess. Ah, but this is a different kind of hostess. As the club's owner Miki (Miki Manojlovic) explains the hostess will have to give hand jobs to customers.
At first Maggie is appalled but she decides to do it because the money is very good.
She becomes an expert in her field and has men lining up for her services. Miki gives her the name Irina Palm because of her great touch.
I won't say more about the plot. I will say that Faithfull is great in the role. You can read all of her emotions on her face. And Mamojlovic is terrific as well. He is not just some sleazy club owner. Things are more complex than that. The film, like the current release Frozen River, shows us that people will try many things when they are desparate for money. And although I don't think that what Maggie did was such a big deal - after all, she was not a criminal - it something that would make many of us uncomfortable.
Anyway, do yourself a favor and rent this film - unless you are a prude. Then I wouldn't bother.
posted by Film Fanatic | 7:48 PM
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