A Man of No Importance

R

1994

1 hr. 38 min.

Drama

List

82%

17 Reviews

Tomatometer

64%

250+ Ratings

Audience Score

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.

Read More

Read Less

Watch on Peacock

Stream Now

Peacock

Prime Video

Rent A Man of No Importance on Prime Video, or buy it on Prime Video.

isla s

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.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

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.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

Full Review

Frances H

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.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/06/18

Full Review

Audience Member

brilliant performances

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Extremely banal, but Rufus Sewell is beautiful.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

Full Review

Audience Member

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.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Suri Krishnamma

Director

Albert Finney

Alfred Byrne

Brenda Fricker

Lily Byrne

Michael Gambon

Ivor J. Carney

Tara Fitzgerald

Adele Rice

Rufus Sewell

Robbie Fay

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

85%

74%

Morvern Callar

91%

81%

Nobody's Fool

90%

86%

The Piano

10%

27%

A Good Man in Africa

81%

74%

The Boxer

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Lisa Schwarzbaum

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: B-

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

Alison Macor

Austin Chronicle

Rated: 4.5/5

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

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.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

...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...

Rated: 4/5

Jan 23, 2024

Full Review

Joe Leydon

The Moving Picture Show

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

Jun 12, 2023

Full Review

Quentin Crisp

Christopher Street

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

Apr 21, 2022

Full Review

Read all reviews

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
Production Co: BBC Films, Little Bird
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 15, 2017
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo

Most Popular at Home Now