Irina Palm (2007)

Maggie, a 50-year-old widow, desperately needs some money to pay for a medical treatment for her ill grandson. After one attempt at trying to find a job, Maggie finds herself roaming the ... See full summary »

Director:

Sam Garbarski

Writers:

Philippe Blasband (original script), Martin Herron (screenplay)

Stars:

Marianne Faithfull, Predrag 'Miki' Manojlovic, Kevin Bishop

6 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

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
Corey Burke	...	Olly
Meg Wynn Owen	...	Julia
Susan Hitch	...	Beth
Flip Webster	...	Edith
Tony O'Brien	...	Shopkeeper
Jules Werner	...	Doctor
Ann Queensberry	...	1st Old Lady
June Bailey	...	2nd Old Lady
Jonny Coyne	...	Dave (as Jonathan Coyne)

Storyline

Maggie, a 50-year-old widow, desperately needs some money to pay for a medical treatment for her ill grandson. After one attempt at trying to find a job, Maggie 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. Maggie courageously gets to know her first anonymous customers, eventually using Irina Palm as her stage name. Maggie, who applies herself in order to keep her job, fascinates Mickey.

---

Plot Keywords:

glory hole | masturbation | mother in law daughter in law relationship | mother son relationship | sick child | 

---

Taglines:

What would you do to save the life of your terminally ill grandson?

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexual content, nudity and language

Details

Country:

Belgium Germany Luxembourg UK France

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 April 2007 (Belgium)

Also Known As:

En ti palami outo voisomen

Filming Locations:

Germany

Box Office

Budget:

$4,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$5,694, 28 March 2008, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$44,064, 15 June 2008

Company Credits

Production Co:

Entre Chien et Loup, Pallas Film, Samsa Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Maggie enters the office of Miki to accept the job, he's seen playing a videogame. The game music is from Super Mario, and when he raises his eyes to look at Maggie, the death sound is heard.

---

Goofs

When Maggie is reading the letter from the bank, rejecting her request for a loan, the letter clearly addresses her as 'Mr'.

---

Quotes

Maggie: Olly is dying, I'm wanking, It's a mess!

---

Connections

Referenced in Countdown: Antigua fábrica de cerveza, 20:06 horas (2008)

User Reviews

Intriguing Slice of Life

Maggie is a widow in her fifties living in a small English village outside of London. She has spent her life in a humdrum manner taking care of her family. Her grandson is very ill and in the hospital. His only chance of survival is surgery in Australia. The medical expenses will be paid by the health care system, but the transportation, etc. must be provided by the family.

Maggie does not have the money, and her son has been out of work for almost a year. Maggie is determined to get the money and goes off to London in a quest of employment of any sort. She is greeted with disdain by potential employers and employment agencies as she is an unremarkable woman with no experience or talent.

In an act of final desperation, Maggie enters a sex shop on a seedy street in London advertising help wanted. It is here that Maggie finds she has a talent much sought after by the clientèle of the shop. She is given the professional name of Irina Palm by her boss, Miki.

It should be obvious that there are going to be sizable repercussions from a modest widow so radically expanding her range of experience, and there are.

Marianne Faithful and Yugoslavian actor Miki Manojlovic are extremely effective as Maggie and Miki - two people who, despite their ages, are able to learn and develop from their experiences.

You'll find that Irina Palm is a very slow moving film but one that offers a very different view of human nature. It is an intriguing slice of life.