A Man of No Importance (1994)

Alfie Byrne is a middle-aged bus conductor in Dublin in 1963. He would appear to live a life of quiet desperation: he's gay, but firmly closeted, and his sister is always trying to find him... See full summary »

Director:

Suri Krishnamma

Writer:

Barry Devlin (screenplay)

Stars:

Albert Finney, Brenda Fricker, Michael Gambon

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Albert Finney	...	Alfred Byrne
Brenda Fricker	...	Lily Byrne
Michael Gambon	...	Ivor J. Carney
Tara Fitzgerald	...	Adele Rice
Rufus Sewell	...	Robbie Fay
Patrick Malahide	...	Inspector Carson
David Kelly	...	Christy Ward
Mick Lally	...	Father Ignatius Kenny
Anna Manahan	...	Mrs. Grace
Joe Pilkington	...	Ernie Lally
Brendan Conroy	...	Rasher Flynn
Joan O'Hara	...	Mrs. Crowe
Eileen Reid	...	Mrs. Rock
Eileen Conroy	...	Mrs. Curtin
Maureen Egan	...	Mrs. Dunne

Storyline

Alfie Byrne is a middle-aged bus conductor in Dublin in 1963. He would appear to live a life of quiet desperation: he's gay, but firmly closeted, and his sister is always trying to find him "the right girl". His passion is Oscar Wilde, his hobby is putting on amateur theatre productions in the local church hall. We follow him as he struggles with temptation, friendship, disapproval, and the conservative yet oddly lyrical world of Ireland in the early 1960s.

---

Plot Keywords:

ireland | 1960s | gay | bus conductor | oscar wilde | 

---

Taglines:

an extraordinary tale of an ordinary hero.

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for a scene of sexuality

Details

Country:

Ireland UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

February 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Um Homem Sem Importância

Box Office

Gross:

$934,550 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

BBC Films, Little Bird, Majestic Films International

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Did You Know?

Quotes

Alfie Bryne: The only way to get rid of temptation, is to yield to it.

---

Soundtracks

"Make the World Go Away"
Written by Hank Cochran
Published by Tree Publishing Company, Inc.
Performed by Ray Price
Courtesy of Columbia Records
By Arrangement with Sony Music Licensing

User Reviews

A Rare Gem

Normally I do not like Albert Finney. In fact I think he's one of the most overrated actors in film (I suspect his style of acting works much better on stage). This movie was an exception. For once he played a real person, and, except for one or two scenes, managed to quench his desire to gnaw at the scenery. I found myself totally identifying with the lead character for once. All of the acting is very effective, and the story is believable. A rare thing in movies. This would be a good double bill for 'My Beautiful Laundrette'. Odd that Indian's present homosexuality believably in English films, but I have never scene an Indian film even portray homosexuality (and, yes, I have seen many Indian films).