A Man of No Importance

Plot

A middle-aged Irish bus conductor with a passion for the writings of Oscar Wilde causes controversy when he attempts to stage Wilde's Salome in this period drama set in early 1960s Dublin. Alfie Byrne (Albert Finney) is a well-liked local figure, a life-long bachelor who charms his bus passengers with dramatic recitations of Wilde's poetry. One day, he spots a beautiful young woman named Adele (Tara Fitzgerald) who inspires him to attempt to stage Salome with her as the title character. Wilde's play inspires outrage amongst the more conservative members of the community, who attempt to shut Alfie down. Rather than giving in, however, Alfie chooses to be true to himself, a decision that forces him to face his true self, particularly his feelings towards his young, handsome co-worker Robbie Fay (Rufus Sewell). ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi

Review

With glee dancing in his eyes and a hidden shame in his heart, Albert Finney grandly carries this small film about a closeted Dublin bus driver who yearns to bring theater and culture to his closed-minded community, even at the cost of his public respect. Finney is simply wonderful, irrepressible yet intensely polite, such a soft, caring soul that it breaks your heart just to watch him earnestly pursue his ideals. Tara Fitzgerald makes a splendid muse for Alfie's Salome and a perfect counterpart to his character, equally kind and vulnerable, but with greater moral compromise, even though society looks more kindly on her dire acts of prostitution than Alfie's "love that dare not speak its name." Their relationship, a non-sexual love, is touchingly childlike and tender. Director Suri Krishnamma has assembled a colorful cast of supporting players to populate his small corner of Dublin, including David Kelly as one of Alfie's few supporters, Michael Gambon as the intolerant moral authority, Brenda Fricker as Alfie's conflicted sister, and the luminous Rufus Sewell as Alfie's studly young crush. The film delves into issues of pain and bigotry, but it remains light on its feet and a thorough pleasure, thanks to a performance by Finney that simply sings. It's also got a healthy dose of comedy; especially fun are the scenes in which Alfie tries, with fraying patience, to make actors out of his motley bunch of bus passengers. ~ Derek Armstrong, Rovi

Cast

• Albert Finney - Alfie Byrne
• Brenda Fricker - Lily Byrne
• Michael Gambon - Ivor Carney
• Tara Fitzgerald - Adele Rice
• Rufus Sewell - Robbie Fay

Patrick Malahide - Inspector Carson; David Kelly - Christy Ward; Mick Lally - Father Ignatius Kenny; Paudge Behan - Kitty; Catherine Byrne - Woman at Canal; Ingrid Craigie - Waitress; Jimmy Keogh - Treasurer; Anna Manahan - Mrs Grace; Joan O'Hara - Mrs Crowe; Eileen Reid - Mrs Rock; Joe Savino - Breton-Beret; Brendan Conroy - Rasher Flynn; Dylan Tighe - Landlady's Son; Stuart Dunne - John; Joe Pilkington - Ernie Lally

Credit

Frank Hallinan Flood - Art Director, Michelle Guish - Casting, Phoebe Degaye - Costume Designer, Lisa Mulcahy - First Assistant Director, Suri Krishnamma - Director, David Freeman - Editor, James Mitchell - Executive Producer, Julian Nott - Composer (Music Score), David A. Stephenson - Musical Direction/Supervision, Ken Jennings - Makeup, Jamie Leonard - Production Designer, Ashley Rowe - Cinematographer, Mark Shivas - Producer, Guy East - Producer, Jonathan Cavendish - Producer, Robert Cooper - Producer, Gerry Johnson - Special Effects, Barry Devlin - Screenwriter, Nick Adams - Dubbing Editor

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