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Title: Irina Palm (2007)
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| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Marianne Faithfull | ... | Maggie | |
| Predrag 'Miki' Manojlovic | ... | Miki (as Miki Manojlovic) | |
| Kevin Bishop | ... | Tom | |
| Siobhan Hewlett | ... | Sarah | |
| Dorka Gryllus | ... | Luisa | |
| Jenny Agutter | ... | Jane | |
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Corey Burke | ... | Olly |
| Meg Wynn Owen | ... | Julia | |
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Susan Hitch | ... | Beth |
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Flip Webster | ... | Edith |
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Tony O'Brien | ... | Shopkeeper |
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Jules Werner | ... | Doctor |
| Ann Queensberry | ... | 1st Old Lady | |
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June Bailey | ... | 2nd Old Lady |
| Jonny Coyne | ... | Dave (as Jonathan Coyne) | |
Maggie, a 60-year-old widow, desperately needs some money to pay for a medical treatment for her ill grandson, Olly. After one attempt at trying to find a job, she finds herself roaming the streets of London Soho. Her eye is caught by a small poster in the window of a shop called "Sexy World" which reads: "Hostess wanted". Too desperate and lost to realize what she does she enters. Micky, the owner, is embarrassed at first, but intrigued by Maggie, he decides to have fun and offers her the job. Her colleague, Luisa, shows her how to give a hand-job through hole in a wall (glory hole) and after the first hesitation, she quickly develops good skills. She uses Irina Palm as her stage name. However, she keeps her work secret from friends and family, which leads to uncomfortable situations. She, who applies herself in order to keep her job, fascinates Mickey.
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.