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A Man of No Importance

Play trailer Poster for A Man of No Importance R 1994 1h 38m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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83% Tomatometer 18 Reviews 63% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
In early-1960s Dublin, bus conductor Alfie Byrne (Albert Finney) lives quietly, leading a local amateur theatrical troupe and keeping house with his sister, Lily (Brenda Fricker). Deeply closeted at a time when homosexuality is still a criminal offense in Ireland, the middle-aged Alfie creates a local scandal when he announces a production of Oscar Wilde's play Salome, starring country girl Adele (Tara Fitzgerald) and Robbie (Rufus Sewell), the bus driver for whom Alfie secretly pines.

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A Man of No Importance

Critics Reviews

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Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times 01/01/2000
2.5/4
If there were real Alfies in Dublin in the early 1960s, and I am sure there were, their lives were probably not anything near this cozy. Go to Full Review Bob Shelton Birmingham Post Jun 24
Strange tale, but Finney is always watchable. Go to Full Review Eddie Harrison film-authority.com 01/23/2024
4/5
...with the atmosphere of 1963 Dublin persuasively caught, A Man of No Importance is one of these lucky films that sees great talent well harnessed... Go to Full Review Joe Leydon The Moving Picture Show 06/12/2023
A slight but captivating film that is transformed into something special by Finney’s sweetly poignant performance. Go to Full Review Quentin Crisp Christopher Street 04/21/2022
I felt that more could have been done with such a good idea and such an excellent actor. Go to Full Review Quentin Curtis Independent on Sunday 12/14/2017
The film captures the ignorance, prejudice and complacent contempt of the times. Finney is wonderful as the tortured hero. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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isla s @RT89656869 09/03/2022 This is a gentle, slow paced but not uncharming slice of Irish cultural life in the time its set in, i.e.the early 60s. I found the main character, Alfred Byrne, to be quite a likeable person, if a little bumbling perhaps. Its an easy and enjoyable watch and I liked that it wasn't too sentimental, nor was it excessively sexual or anything like that. Its a somewhat thoughtful film, with some poignant dialogue and so I'd sat this is worth a watch. See more Simon T @Bucksplit 01/06/2021 It's the early 60s in Dublin and a middle-aged bus conductor sublimates his unfulfilled homosexual leanings into directing an amateur production of Oscar Wilde's Salome. A good cast, led by a twinkly Albert Finney, is unfortunately encouraged to wildly overdo the Oirish blarney: only David Kelly and Brenda Fricker (and to an extent Michael Gambon) are the real deal among the principal cast, and the thin script is further diluted by soupy music and rather clunky direction. See more 04/07/2015 brilliant performances See more 06/03/2010 Extremely banal, but Rufus Sewell is beautiful. See more 05/30/2009 brilliant stuff. i never really appreciated this film on previous views but guess i have reached an age where works such as this become more enjoyable. Finney is truly wonderful. rufus sewell also stars along with the other cast members mentioned here. good film, Shalom. See more 05/01/2008 A controlled performance by Finney, but you wouldn't expect anything liess from him. See more Read all reviews
A Man of No Importance

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Cast & Crew

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Suri Krishnamma

Director

Albert Finney

Alfred Byrne

Brenda Fricker

Lily Byrne

Michael Gambon

Ivor J. Carney

Tara Fitzgerald

Adele Rice

Rufus Sewell

Robbie Fay

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A Man of No Importance

A Man of No Importance (1994) A Man of No Importance (1994) A Man of No Importance (1994) A Man of No Importance (1994) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In early-1960s Dublin, bus conductor Alfie Byrne (Albert Finney) lives quietly, leading a local amateur theatrical troupe and keeping house with his sister, Lily (Brenda Fricker). Deeply closeted at a time when homosexuality is still a criminal offense in Ireland, the middle-aged Alfie creates a local scandal when he announces a production of Oscar Wilde's play Salome, starring country girl Adele (Tara Fitzgerald) and Robbie (Rufus Sewell), the bus driver for whom Alfie secretly pines.
Director
Suri Krishnamma
Producer
Jonathan Cavendish
Production Co
Little Bird, BBC Films
Rating
R
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 15, 2017
Runtime
1h 38m
Sound Mix
Surround, Stereo
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