Albert Nobbs

Albert Nobbs
Directed by	Rodrigo García
Written by	Glenn Close John Banville
Based on	"The Singular Life of Albert Nobbs" by George Moore
Starring	Glenn Close Mia Wasikowska Aaron Johnson Janet McTeer Jonathan Rhys Meyers Brendan Gleeson Maria Doyle Kennedy
Music by	Brian Byrne
Distributed by	Lionsgate Roadside Attractions (USA) Entertainment One (UK)
Release date(s)	September 2, 2011 (2011-09-02) (Telluride)
Running time	113 minutes
Country	‹See Tfd› Ireland
Language	English
Budget	€6,000,000[1]
Box office	$5,410,553 (worldwide)[2]

Albert Nobbs is a drama film starring Glenn Close and directed by Rodrigo García. The screenplay is based on a novella by Irish novelist George Moore.

The film received mixed reviews but the performances by Glenn Close and Janet McTeer were praised and they were both nominated for the Academy Award in the categories of Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress, respectively. They also received Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild Award nominations. The film was also nominated for the Academy Award for Best Makeup.

Plot

Albert Nobbs (Glenn Close) is a woman living as a man in order to find work in the harsh environment of 19th-century Ireland. After living as a male for thirty years, Albert, working as a hotel waiter, is known for her extreme dedication to her job, as well as her introverted personality. Albert has been saving as much money as she can to buy a shop for herself with, hopefully, a wife by her side.

Albert's steadfast work is shaken by the sudden arrival of Hubert Page (Janet McTeer), a house painter hired by Mrs. Baker (Pauline Collins), the hotel owner. Albert is shocked that Hubert is to room with her while he works at the hotel. On their first night, Hubert discovers Albert's secret, but promises never to reveal it, much to Albert's relief. The next day, Hubert confesses she is also a woman. Hubert leaves soon after, but not before telling Albert that she has a wife named Cathleen, a dressmaker.

Meanwhile, recently unemployed Joe Mackins (Aaron Johnson) arrives at the hotel to repair the boiler. Flirtatious maid, Helen Dawes (Mia Wasikowska), is attracted to him, and they soon become lovers; Joe's controlling nature and alcoholism soon become apparent, however.

Albert visits Hubert at her home and meets Cathleen (Bronagh Gallagher). Albert tells Hubert her story: Albert was born a bastard and raised in a convent before being kicked out after her mother's death. One night, when she was fourteen, she was brutally gang raped and beaten by a group of men. Soon afterwards she found a second-hand suit and, to find work and fulfillment, she transitioned to a male.

Believing Helen would be the ideal wife to run a shop with, Albert asks her to leave with her. Helen refuses, but Joe, believing that Albert will give her money that could help the pair immigrate to America, encourages her to accept. Helen agrees to be with Albert, who buys Helen expensive gifts to please her. Helen is uncomfortable with Albert and the arrangement that Joe forced her to make. Albert tells Helen she wants to buy a shop, though Helen only wants to leave Ireland for America.

A Typhoid epidemic has broken out in Dublin, and when some staff fall ill, customers avoid the hotel, causing financial problems. Albert becomes infected but soon recovers, while Helen discovers she is pregnant with Joe's child. Joe is terrified, fearing he will become like his abusive father. Albert goes to Hubert's home and learns that Cathleen died, devastating Hubert. As a tribute to her, Albert and Hubert don dresses Cathleen made and take a stroll outside. Though both are extremely uncomfortable, for a brief moment, Albert feels free and embraces her old identity.

Albert learns that Helen is pregnant and offers to marry her. Helen refuses, believing Albert does not love her, though Albert confirms her fear that Joe will abandon her and the child and go to America alone. Later that evening, when Joe and Helen get into a loud fight, Albert intervenes. Albert physically attacks Joe when he attempts to hurt Helen in a fit of rage; Joe throws Albert against a wall, hitting her head. She dies later that night from a stroke.

Mrs. Baker discovers Albert's hidden money and uses it to revitalize the hotel. In the following months, Joe has gone to America and Helen has given birth to a son, Albert Joseph. Mrs. Baker hires Hubert to paint the entire hotel. Hubert meets Helen again, who breaks down and reveals that she will be separated from her son and thrown out into the street. Hubert tells her, "We can't let that happen, can we?", implying that she will look after her in lieu of Albert.

Production

Close first played the titular character in a 1982 stage production,^[3] and spent fifteen years trying to turn it into a film.^[4] The film almost went into production in the early 2000s, with director Istvan Szabo, but the financing fell apart.^[5] In addition to her starring role, Close is also a producer and co-writer with John Banville.^[5]

Production was scheduled to begin in July 2010 but was delayed until December, when Mia Wasikowska and Aaron Johnson replaced Amanda Seyfried and Orlando Bloom.^[6] Filming commenced on 13 December on location in Dublin and Wicklow.^[4] In July 2011, it was announced that Albert Nobbs would screen at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival in September^[7] and the first official photos from the film were released.^[8]

Cast

Glenn Close in Paris at the film's French premiere in February 2012.

• Glenn Close as Albert Nobbs
• Mia Wasikowska as Helen Dawes^[9]
• Aaron Johnson as Joe
• Janet McTeer as Hubert Page^[9]
• Pauline Collins as Mrs. Baker^[9]
• Brenda Fricker as Polly^[9]
• Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Viscount Yarrell
• Brendan Gleeson as Dr. Holloran
• Maria Doyle Kennedy as Mary
• Mark Williams as Sean
• Serena Brabazon as Mrs. Moore
• Michael McElhatton as Mr. Moore
• Kenneth Collard as M. Pigot
• Bronagh Gallagher as Cathleen

Reception

The film has earned mostly mixed reviews from critics. Albert Nobbs currently holds a 53% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 117 reviews. Metacritic.com gave the film a 57 out of 100, with mixed or average review based on 41 critics.

Release

The film opened in January 2012 at 245 locations.^[10] As of March 11, 2012, its gross stands at $5,410,553.^[11]

Accolades

References

External links

• Albert Nobbs at the Internet Movie Database
• Albert Nobbs at Rotten Tomatoes
• Albert Nobbs at Metacritic
• A Story-Teller's Holiday by George Moore, 1918. Chapters 45 through 53 contain the story later reprinted in Celibate Lives as "The Singular Life of Albert Nobbs".