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Irina Palm (2007) Plus avec IMDbPro »

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25 commentaires au total

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47 utilisateurs sur 54 ont trouvé ce commentaire utile :
Irina Palm, 30 juin 2007

Auteur : Raj Doctor de Amsterdam, Pays-Bas

When I saw the trailers it looked like a European film and settings, but luckily this movie was in English directed by a German born Belgium director Sam Garbarski.

The story is in a small village near London about a widowed grand-mother Maggie (Marianne Faithful), whose grand son has to undergo treatment in Australia. She has a son Tom (Kevin Bishop) and daughter in law Sarah (Siobhan Hewlett) who can not earn that much to afford the trip to Australia. Maggie loves the grandson a lot but does not have any skills to do work – she has never worked in her entire life. After being rejected at many places, in search of work she lands up in the Soho area (red light district of London) in Mikky's (Miki Manojlovic) sex club / restaurant. Very shy and hesitant – she agrees to the work of masturbating men for a decent sum of Pounds 900 per week. Within no time she becomes the famous Irina Palm (pseudo name) for her skills. Maggie finds a new confidence and self-independence through this new role – which she never thought would become her respected profession. She borrows money from Miki and gives to her son, who becomes suspicious and when he follows her and knows about her new profession and is deeply hurt. He wants her to take the money back and leave the dirty profession.

The movie is about the journey through the mind of Maggie. Her hesitations, her doubts, her fears, her joy, her confidence, her love, and her grandiose – everything is perfect.

Marianne Faithful – who started her career as a singer, and later got involved in film acting – looks beautiful (just google her name and see how beautiful she was in her young days) and has acted honorably in portraying the character of Maggie to its core. She speaks more in her silences, stares and glances than with words. She was the perfect casting by the Director Sam. A special mention of veteran actor Miki Manojlovic – who has played the dark character of Mikky with so much punch and humanness that it is remarkable and not easy to forget. Both Marianne and Miki sparkles the screen with their historic.

A very well directed film by Sam – this is just his fifth directional project. He has also co-written the script with Philip Blasband. Cinematography by Christophe Beacarne is wonderful in capturing the life of a small British village to the dark and dingy streets and hotels of Soho –especially the beginning shot of the village through bird's view and hand held shots of dark back alleys of Soho.

At one point in the movie when Maggie is forced by her son to leave the work, I was longing for Marianne to go back to her profession – because that had brought her self- dignity and self-esteem. But I will not say the ending and spoil of interest.

A very good – sensitive movie! (Stars 7.5 out of 10)

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40 utilisateurs sur 45 ont trouvé ce commentaire utile :
Every now and then, 17 novembre 2007

Auteur : Paul Bakalite de Royaume-Uni

Every now and then a remarkable small film is made. The recent "Venus" starring Peter O'Toole is one. Irina Palm is also one.

This is a story of a middle-aged woman (Maggie, played by Marianne Faithful) worn down by sadness. She must get hold of a substantial amount of money. Forced by necessity and desperation Maggie does something that is at first utterly alien to her, but may yet become an awakening and salvation, a route to an identity she does not know she has and to new love.

Marianne Faithful's central performance is hugely affecting in its undecorated stillness and simplicity. This film is a cut above so many bigger releases. If you like a small story well-told it is for you.

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25 utilisateurs sur 26 ont trouvé ce commentaire utile :
Gritty, original and realistic, 19 novembre 2007

Auteur : slake09 de Silver Lake, Ohio, USA

Marianne Faithful stars as a grandmother desperate to provide a rare and expensive medical treatment for her cancer-stricken grandson, in any way possible. She tries every other avenue before settling, reluctantly, on sex work.

The synopsis just doesn't do justice to the movie; my expectations were low, but the film really delivers. From the reactions of her friends and family to the pride she begins to take in her job, this movie has a wealth of subtle and not-so-subtle points to make. The one thing I noted was that there is no way, in the context of the film, to condemn her character for what she is doing. She simply has to reach her goal, and nothing is going to stop her. That kind of dedication is rare and touching.

The best scenes were the grandmother's relations with the club owner and other workers. She holds her own and maintains her dignity despite the circumstances she finds herself in. There aren't any crude jokes, despite the material, but there are rare moments of humor.

Watch this if you get the chance, you won't be disappointed.

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17 utilisateurs sur 17 ont trouvé ce commentaire utile :
Classy Brit Flick, 26 décembre 2007

Auteur : roblynmouth de Royaume-Uni

Irina Palm is one of those quirky off-beat Brit flicks that you come across every now and again. Based around the life of a middle aged Maggie, widowed, one son and a grandchild dying of a rare illness. Maggie needs a lot of money to pay for the treatment the boy needs, which can only be found in Australia. However, as widow whose main employment seems to have been as a lady who lunches, her work skills are rather non-existent. Also having sold of the family silver and home some time previously there is very little in the kitty to pay for the treatment he needs. However, she eventually finds salvation in the sex trade as an unlikely sex worker however a rather talented one at that. Finding her niche in hand jobs (to be polite) she sets about becoming the best in London and the target of headhunters (or hand-hunters in this case) What I really enjoyed is the sheer brilliant humanity that Ms Faithful brought to the screen as she realizes that there are real people who work the industry, real that is with families, and homes of their own Special mention must go to Miki Manojlovic and Jenny Agutter for two of the best scenes in the film. All in all a well worth the trip out but as its now playing at Art house cinemas might be a little bit tricky to find.

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14 utilisateurs sur 15 ont trouvé ce commentaire utile :
The Magic Touch of Irina Palm, 1 octobre 2007

Auteur : kaaber-2 de Copenhagen, Danemark

*** Ce commentaire peut contenir des spoilers ***

Somehow in line with "Calendar Girls" and "Mrs Henderson Presents" as it deals with the sex life of elderly ladies, "Irina Palm" is the story of the slightly-more-than-middle-aged Maggie who has to raise a large sum of money in order to save her grandchild from dying, takes a job as a w*nker in a sex club (minimal physical touch, no nude scenes, all done in the best taste) (... imaginable under the circumstances, that is) - and finds that she has a rare talent for just that sort of work. I liked it. The story is given every conceivable, foreseeable twist and turn - a romance with the sex bar proprietor who just had to sample her talent on the sly; her friends who are dying to be let in on the particulars, but still are too prudish not to turn their backs on her; her son finding out and flying into a rage, and the reconciliation with her hostile daughter-in-law when she learns about Maggie's sacrifice - all predictable, but still: I liked it. Perhaps because everybody in the film puts out great performance. Miki Manoljovic is very good as the sex bar owner who falls in love with his unlikely ace employee, Kevin Bishop is frighteningly good as the loving, mild-mannered son who cannot really see his way through to understand his mother (which son could, given her line of work?), and Marianne Faithful, that rarely seen blast from the past (my past, at least) is certainly a far cry from her Ophelia in 1969 (Yes, I do know that she's been doing bits and bobs in between, but somehow I've missed them). Marianne Faithful's slow, slightly hazy style is recognizable still, and I'd say she carries this film through in a very touching way - no pun intended.

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14 utilisateurs sur 17 ont trouvé ce commentaire utile :
A beautiful triumph!, 15 février 2008

Auteur : sindrebergman de Norvège

A charitable and moving tale about a woman who unselfishly compromises her dignity in order to save her grandchild's life.

The middle-aged window Maggie lives a quiet life in suburban England. She has a restrained relationship to her son Tom and his wire Sarah. The light of her life is her grandchild Olly who recently has become seriously ill. Maggie does her best to help, but the employers are not exactly waiting in line for a middle-aged woman with no education worth mentioning. When all family-members learn that there are no English specialist able to treat Olly and the only solution is leaving for Melborne to find the necessary treatment, they have to find a way to raise enough Money for the trip. The next day Maggie sees an advertisement on the window of a sex-club where a hostess is wanted. Maggie meets up with the owner and it doesn't take long before she's offered the job. Even though Maggies knew job is far from what she expected it to be, she Accepts it because of Olly. In a short period of time Maggie achieves a good reputation and gets well paid. She also finds a good friend in single-mom Louisa and seems to be getting a long fine in her new business. But people in the neighborhood are staring to question Maggies sudden change in behavior and Maggie realizes that sooner or later she will have to confront her friends with their prejudice and revalue her own morals.

Sam Garbarski delivers one of the most authentic descriptions of everyday-life since Ken Loachs "Ladybird,Ladybird"(1994) and Mike Leighs " Secrets and Lies"(1996). The films balanced handling of it's topics gives the viewer time to reflect. The gentle pace and realistic performances contributes to create a movie-experience with deep human insight. The whole movie is filled with a underlying aura of empathy and love that shines through in this wonderful film.

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14 utilisateurs sur 17 ont trouvé ce commentaire utile :
A Great Surprise, 13 décembre 2007

Auteur : martinvives de Barcelona, Espagne

I watched this movie in the preview in my university. I must admit that when my friend told me what it was about I thought it would be one of those dull good-intentioned but poorly made movie. I was wrong.

This movie is powerful and transmits a lot. Doesn't pretend to feel pity, and even though the beginning might be even considered dramatic, it made me laugh out loud several times.

It's the first review I write, but I definitely thought I should drop a line to defend this beautiful story that talks about what can a person do for a loved one, about re-discovering yourself, about avoiding stupid dogmas... And at the end it leaves you with a broad smile and a sense of tenderness that not so commonly a movie inflicts you.

If you like beautiful stories, this is your movie.

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10 utilisateurs sur 11 ont trouvé ce commentaire utile :
original and touching tale, 22 février 2008
Auteur : antoniotierno (antoniotierno@hotmail.com) de Italie

Marianne Faithful has an emotional magnet, a stillness/quietness that makes her performance, as well as the film totally, centered on this intriguing and unique character; Miki Manojlovic too, as the nightclub owner, provides a wonderful and a smooth performance; Dorka Gryllus is also remarkable in her small but important role as Maggie's colleague. The story's concept is not completely brand new (desperate character doing desperate things to make money for life saving) but it has been refreshed and it finally proved involving and engaging. Of course it's a very improbable story, but I found very convincing the portrayal of a woman uncomfortable in her own skin and overall uncomfortable with other peoples. There are some scenes blending humor and surprise, rendered in a very poignant way and the tone is always appropriate.

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8 utilisateurs sur 8 ont trouvé ce commentaire utile :
The Practicalities of Desperation, 26 août 2008

Auteur : gradyharp de Etats-Unis

IRINA PALM may be a film too many people will overlook, thinking it either empty headed or pornographic. But word of mouth should correct those misconceptions, as this little quiet film is a tender story of an aging woman's sacrifices and healthy outlook in the face of adversity. IRINA PALM is that happy marriage of comedy and drama, a heartwarming tale that leaves the viewer with both a smile and a tear.

Written by Director Sam Garbarski with Martin Herron and Phillipe Blasband, IRINA PALM is the story of a widowed grandmother Maggie (Marianne Faithful in a luminous performance) whose young grandson Ollie (Corey Burke) is gravely ill. Maggie's son Tom (Kevin Bishop) and daughter-in-law Sarah (Siobhan Hewlett) cannot afford the transfer from England to Australia where the young lad could undergo curative treatment. Maggie decides she must find a job - a daunting task for an older woman with no particular job training - to make the treatment affordable. After numerous rejections from employment agencies, she spies a Sex Shop advertising for 'hostesses'. Thinking that designation means serving tea, etc, she enters the shady establishment and is interviewed by the owner Miki (Miki Manojlovic), a gentle man who gently describes the type of employment: Maggie would sit in a room and provide simple masturbation through a glory hole for anonymous clients. At first shocked by the job description, she in desperation investigates the business with the help of her soon to be best friend Luisa (Dorka Gryllus), and accepts the job with reservations. To her surprise (and the surprise of Miki and Luisa) Maggie gains a loyal following of customers, so much so that she is given the name 'Irina Palm'.

Keeping her employment a secret from everyone, she is the brunt of gossip from her old cronies and when she gives the money from her job to her son Tom without revealing its source, she causes a riff in the family. Maggie is courted by other sex shop owners who offer higher pay, but she remains faithful to Miki who advanced her the money for Ollie's trip to Australia. Tom stalks his mother to her workplace, discovers the source of her income, and explodes with anger and embarrassment that his mother would stoop to such depths. But Maggie's role as Irina Palm has given her confidence and also opened her heart not only to her grandson's future but to her own happiness as well. The ending may be expected by some, but will warm the hearts of everyone.

There are many moments of humor - Maggie's learning her trade, her ultimate confession to her cronies as to her occupation, etc - and this lightness makes the dramatic message more powerful. Faithful is extraordinarily fine in this difficult role, but the entire cast is sensitively responsive to the screenplay and to director Garbarski's vision. This is a film to cherish. Highly recommended. Grady Harp

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7 utilisateurs sur 7 ont trouvé ce commentaire utile :
Best handjob movie of the year, 3 avril 2008

Auteur : fertilecelluloid de Mountains of Madness

*** Ce commentaire peut contenir des spoilers ***

Even though it hasn't been a great year for handjob movies, this is still the best one going so far. It's even named after the handjob queen herself, Irina Palm. Marianne Faithful is Maggie, a grandmother of a sick little boy who needs a life-saving operation in Australia. With the boy's parents unable to come up with the funds for a plane ticket and accommodation, Maggie reluctantly takes a job in a sex club as an anonymous masturbator of men. She turns out to be so popular and such a natural that the other girl doing the same job gets fired. The sex club boss, who develops a soft spot for Maggie, starts marketing Maggie as 'Irina Palm', and laughs all the way to the bank. For a while, anyway. Complication do arise when Maggie's bombastic son learns that his mum is turning tricks with her hand. There are health consequences to the work, too, such as contracting "penis elbow", and being forced to use the left hand when the working hand is forced into a sling. "Irina Palm", which is a pretty dour, depressing drama, is perked up occasionally by some black humor and sharp characterization. It's a little too slow at times, and Faithful is not the most exciting actress, but it's an eye-opening "true story" that can't be accused of being limp.

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