A Man of No Importance

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A Man of No Importance

R,

1994,

1h 38m,

Drama

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Watchlist

Watchlist

83%

18 Reviews

Tomatometer

64%

250+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

83%

Tomatometer

18 Reviews

64%

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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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Jan 1, 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.

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Bob Shelton

Birmingham Post

Jun 24, 2025

Strange tale, but Finney is always watchable.

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

Jan 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...

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Joe Leydon

The Moving Picture Show

Jun 12, 2023

A slight but captivating film that is transformed into something special by Finney’s sweetly poignant performance.

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Quentin Crisp

Christopher Street

Apr 21, 2022

I felt that more could have been done with such a good idea and such an excellent actor.

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Quentin Curtis

Independent on Sunday

Dec 14, 2017

The film captures the ignorance, prejudice and complacent contempt of the times. Finney is wonderful as the tortured hero.

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George R

Mar 5, 2018

Such a sweet flick about a older man who takes delight in the works of Oscar Wilde, and shares his proclivities, but has never indulged in them. Instead he puts all of his energies and enthusiasm into trying to put on Wilde's plays and befriending all of the people who ride his bus--reading them the poetry of his favorite artist. When he shocks the conservative community with his latest attempt at the staging of Salome, secrets comes out that create tempest that marks a turning point in Alfie's life. A great cast in a film that uses gentle humor when dealing with its subject and Finney shows again what a consummate and charming actor he is.

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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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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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