Irina Palm

I have a real soft spot for European dramas—they can either blow me away or leave me frustrated, depending on whether those two hours felt worth it or like a waste of time. The tricky part is, you never really know, because each one offers something different and they don’t always click with everyone. Irina Palm, though, caught me by surprise. At first, it seemed like your typical slow-burn story: an elderly person dealing with family problems. But then the plot picks up in such an unexpected way that it kept me engaged the whole time. What really stands out is how, despite the film’s seemingly sad and heavy premise, it’s actually handled with a lot of humor and a light touch. The director injects a surprising amount of positive energy into the story, even making fun of it here and there, which balances out the gloomier parts. And by the end, you realize the movie isn't as depressing as it seems on the surface. Oh, and one last thing: trust the poster. Irina Palm definitely knows what "penis elbow" is all about :-) (11/05/2011)

European independent boredom + jerking off penises with an outdated razor = festival hit. It's bad. (15/07/2011)

A very strong, deeply human film on an emotional level. It is essentially an intimate drama about a woman who decides to make a great personal sacrifice to help her dying grandson and starts working in the erotic industry. At times amusing, at times sad, but never cheaply sentimental or emotionally manipulative. It is very well acted, with appropriate length and a believable screenplay. One of those unassuming but high-quality films that stay in one's memory. Overall impression: 80%. (17/04/2009)

Irina Palm has aged a bit and I wouldn't even remembered it if I hadn’t seen it on TV. But it is a thoroughly entertaining film and I see no reason not to recommend it to the whole family. It's all there: love, forgiveness, and in the end, family happiness. (19/10/2014)