MovieChat Forums > Irina Palm (2007) Discussion > Odd? (PLOT SPOILER)

Odd? (PLOT SPOILER)

posted 16 years ago by ChaChaChaChanges
8 replies | jump to latest

Did anyone else find it odd (or clumsy writing?) that right after the explosive exchange between the Maggie and her son over his discovery of "Irma Palm" was the scene between Maggie and the local women? I understand how some writers feel the need for comic relief. But it seems a stretch that after such a heartbreaking exchange Maggie would act so frivolously and a bit proud about revealing her job.

Also, I thought it was odd that Maggie would give up accompanying her (dying!) grandson to Australia and instead go back to Miki. What the ?

This wasn't a bad film, but it wasn't fantastic.

[–] Invernomuto 16 years ago

imho this movie is about simple human emotions

Maggie's so called friends were just a bunch of lonely sad nosey people
they didn't even kwnow that her nephew was so sick
all that matters for them was where she was going.. they just keep asking that instead of taking care of what was really going on
useless cruel people :(

the only one that at the end push her away is the worst of them... a liar
when irina lights up her sigarette we understand that she is a new woman
proud of what she is doing that has found real people with real feelings
ready to leave all behind.. maybe selfishly but this makes her human ;)

her work just made her stronger and able to do something for a good reason
she built up a new future for herself and for her nephew making huge sacrifices.. leaving a true friend with no work with children

maybe her final choice is a little awkward but she has a new life with his new lover and a debit still to pay

perhaps it's not the most rational ending but i still prefer this to the "australian trip" one :)

i really enjoyed this movie and the character of Maggie

[–] ela-schwanden 16 years ago

BTW It's not her nephew but her only grand child...

[–] tripz 16 years ago

It occurs to me that often we allow certain things in our lives to just remain the same, even though we want to make changes. Maggie's "so called friends" are a possible example of that. She probably allows their gossiping and haughty nature because up to this point, at least since her husband died, they are all she's known. She's a quiet, soft spoken person. The situtation with her grandson has forced her to go beyond what most of us ever have to do in order to survive. With that often comes a new revelation about life's realities. She's kept the new job secret, even though the neighbors are noseybodies. After her son found out, she truly has no real reason to play the ostentatious games her friends play. Their "too good" attitude is no longer something Maggie can stomach, so she tells them the truth about her job. Remember the comment her one friend made about Maggie probably having a boring job. Maggie sticks it to her real good at the corner store. What a burn!

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] jessonderskov 16 years ago

I aggree in the unrealistic relationship. One more little thing is that the other girl gets fired. He needed more employees than only Irina. In real life she would have stayed, I think. That was a little to much heroism to credit "Irina" for. But all together it was a good and realistic drama.

ohyeswecan

[–] jimmy-7777777 12 years ago

maybe its not unusual that she went off with her boss at the end. 1.she found his smile attractive 2.he gave her the means to raise the money 3. they both had something in common in the fact that they were only using their job as a means to an end (remember he showed her the photo of his retirement villa)4. they were both 50 plus and single and he found her intriguing 5. and controversial as this may sound she probably derived alot self esteem from the fact that she had discovered the natural gift of being able to pleasure a man so well.

[–] jimmy-7777777 12 years ago

maybe its not unusual that she went off with her boss at the end. 1.she found his smile attractive 2.he gave her the means to raise the money 3. they both had something in common in the fact that they were only using their job as a means to an end (remember he showed her the photo of his retirement villa)4. they were both 50 plus and single and he found her intriguing 5. and controversial as this may sound; she probably derived alot self esteem from the fact that she had discovered the natural gift of being able to pleasure a man so well.

[–] lulupalooza 11 years ago

Regarding the reveal with her son and the consequential decision to not travel:

The film indicated that the son's wife desperately wanted to spend more time with her husband, but he spent so much time with his mother - involving her in too many aspects. This irritated the wife and strained her relationship with her MIL. That is likely why, in the end, his mother gracefully bows out and decides not to travel to the hospital with them; they needed quality time as a married couple - and as parents - with their son at such a critical juncture.

It was the son who needed to grow up and focus more on his wife and their relationship. The mother figured this out after he threw the highly disrespectful tantrum over her personal adult choice to work at the club; he acted like a jilted lover or a controlling husband when he found out about her employment...a huge sacrifice to save his son! That's why his mom knew...what absolutely had to be done.

It was high time to cut the apron strings to "Mommy". *snip-snip*

Seriously...would you want your mother-in-law attending practically every life event you and your spouse would need to take on as a couple? It's simply not healthy to not have that intimate time together as their own nuclear family. The mother had already given them an incredibly selfless gift...that would effectively serve as her "presence" during the medical trip.

I found the mother's altruistic decision to be deeply touching...so I'm perplexed that some find it odd or confusing. This was a HUGE part of her evolution, as any protagonist should experience in a decent screenplay.

I hope this was helpful.