Sensation (2010)

A naïve Irish farmer gets a crash course in the business of pleasure in this comedy from writer and director Tom Hall. Donal (Domhnall Gleeson) is twenty-six years old and lives on a remote farm in Tipperary with his aging dad. The closet thing Donal has to a friend is Karl (Patrick Ryan), a slobby security guard who hangs out on the farm when he has no place better to do, and Donal has never had a girlfriend, though he has a large stash of tattered porn magazines he hides in a field away from his father. When his dad dies unexpectedly, Donal considers getting out of farming, and decides to treat himself to a visit from a prostitute. Kim (Luanne Gordon), a New Zealand expatriate who uses the professional name "Courtney," quickly relieves Donal of his virginity, and when she mentions her desire to set up an escort service, he's eager to help, knowing he's not the only lonely farmer in Tipperary. Donal begins selling off his livestock to finance Kim's new project and gives her some more business besides. As the business becomes a success, he develops something resembling confidence and even works up the nerve to ask the pretty check out girl at the local market on a date. But the law doesn't take long to discover something fishy is happening in town, and Drummey (Owen Roe), a less than scrupulous local businessman, approaches Donal demanding a piece of the action. Amidst this chaos, are Donal and Kim fated to only be partners in business? Sensation received its North American premiere at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi