Main Cast: Roberto Citran, Susan Lynch, Peter McDonald, Ewan McGregor, Aedin Moloney
Release Year: 2000
Country: UK
Run Time: 106 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
This period drama is based on the real-life relationship of the great Irish novelist James Joyce and his longtime lover, Nora Barnacle. Aspiring writer James (Ewan McGregor) meets Nora (Susan Lynch) in Dublin in 1904. While she lacks James' interest in literature, she shares his frustrations about the limitations of life in Ireland, and she encourages him in both his work and in his desire to try his hand in Europe. Nora also shares James' potent sexual appetite, and James finds himself at once thrilled by her enthusiasm for lovemaking and troubled by suspicions that she may be unfaithful to him. When James decides to relocate to Trieste, Nora joins him, and they eventually have two children together, but their relationship is often stormy -- James angrily suspects that Nora is having affairs with his brother Stanislaus (Peter McDonald) and their close friend Roberto (Roberto Citran) as he struggles with his writing and battles censors over his masterwork, Ulysses. However, while they have troubles keeping their relationship together, they find that it's even harder for them to live apart from one another. Ewan McGregor served as both star and co-producer for Nora, which was backed in part by his production company, Natural Nylon Entertainment. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Dublin, 1904, James Joyce meets a hotel maid from Galway named Nora Barnacle. He quickly falls under her spell because of her adventerous and uninhibited manner. They soon fall in love and go to Trieste, where he has a job with Berlitz. Their stormy relationship results in two children, but Joyce constantly suspects that Nora is having affairs with his brother Stanislaus and their close friend Roberto as he struggles with his writing and battles censors over his masterpiece, Ulysses.
Closing quote
“
Dubliners was finally published in 1914. James Joyce is recognised as one of the world's great writers. He and Nora spent the rest of their lives together.
”
Awards
Won
Cherbourg-Octeville Festival of Irish & British Film (2000): Best Actress - Susan Lynch
Irish Film and Television Awards (2000): IFTA Award Best Actress - Susan Lynch
Nominated
Cherbourg-Octeville Festival of Irish & British Film (2000): Best Film - Pat Murphy
Irish Film and Television Awards (2000): IFTA Award Best Actor - Ewan McGregor
Irish Film and Television Awards (2000): IFTA Award Best Craft Achievement - Consolata Boyle (costume design)
Irish Film and Television Awards (2000): IFTA Award Best Craft Achievement - Jean-François Robin (cinematography)
Irish Film and Television Awards (2000): IFTA Award Best Feature Film
Irish Film and Television Awards (2000): IFTA Award Best Screenplay Pat Murphy and Gerard Stembridge
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (2000): Crystal Globe - Pat Murphy
