Irma la mala: A heavy lesson in bad parenting

Is this for you?

If you enjoy old-school melodramas that feel like a cold splash of water to the face, you might appreciate this. It is not exactly a fun Saturday night watch. If you have zero patience for characters making selfish, boneheaded choices that destroy their own lives, you will probably hate every minute of this.

Irma la mala isn't interested in being subtle. The movie sets up its premise with a bluntness that is actually kind of refreshing. You see a woman who has everything—a nice husband, a kid, a decent life—and you watch her just… walk away from it for a party. It is frustrating to watch.

The pacing is a bit weird. It feels like the director was in a rush to get to the tragedy. There is this one scene where she is getting ready for an event, and the lighting is just so dramatic that you know something bad is coming. It is almost funny how heavy-handed the shadows are.

Compared to something like The Dance of Life, this film feels much more claustrophobic. It’s not about the joy of performing; it is about the cost of it.

Odd little things I noticed:

• The way the actors stare into the middle distance when they are supposed to be "reflecting."
• The background extras in the party scenes look like they are having a better time than the main cast, which is distracting.
• Some of the dialogue feels like it was written to be shouted, even in quiet living rooms.

The tragedy hits hard, but the movie does not give you enough time to really process it before jumping to the next dramatic beat. It is like the film is constantly tapping its watch. Do you feel sad yet? How about now?

It lacks the nuance of The Chess Player, but it hits that specific, painful note of a life spiraling out of control. It isn't a masterpiece, but it’s a memorable look at a total self-saboteur. Sometimes, you just need to see a disaster unfold to appreciate your own boring, quiet Tuesday night. 🎞️