Albert Nobbs (2011)

Albert Nobbs struggles to survive in late 19th century Ireland, where women aren't encouraged to be independent. Posing as a man, so she can work as a butler in Dublin's most posh hotel, Albert meets a handsome painter and looks to escape the lie she has been living.

Director:

Rodrigo García

Writers:

Glenn Close (screenplay), John Banville (screenplay),

Stars:

Glenn Close, Antonia Campbell-Hughes, Mia Wasikowska

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 11 wins & 20 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Glenn Close	...	Albert Nobbs
Antonia Campbell-Hughes	...	Emmy
Mia Wasikowska	...	Helen
Pauline Collins	...	Margaret 'Madge' Baker
Maria Doyle Kennedy	...	Mary
Mark Williams	...	Sean Casey
James Greene	...	Patrick
Serena Brabazon	...	Mrs. Moore
Michael McElhatton	...	Mr. Moore
Dolores Mullally	...	Milady
Bonnie McCormack	...	Miss Shaw
Phyllida Law	...	Mrs. Cavendish
Brendan Gleeson	...	Dr. Holloran
Kenneth Collard	...	Monsieur Pigot
Judy Donovan	...	Madame Pigot

Storyline

In 19th century Dublin, Albert Nobbs, an eccentric man in the latter part of middle age, works as a waiter in Morrison's Hotel run by the stingy and controlling Marge Baker. Albert is hard working and saves his money so that one day he will be able to eke out a better life for himself by owning his own business rather than work at the hotel. Beyond his work colleagues, he is all alone in the world. One day, a man named Hubert Page is hired by Mrs. Baker to paint one of the rooms in the hotel. She forces Hubert to share Albert's bed for the one night he is required to stay to complete the work, much to Albert's horror. Hubert discovers the reason Albert did not want to share a room with him. But rather than the issue being a problem, Hubert shows Albert that he can follow a slightly different life path than the one he envisioned for himself - one closer to the life that Hubert leads with his wife Cathleen - which includes getting married and having a wife to support him emotionally. ...

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Plot Keywords:

hotel | 19th century | ireland | painter | butler | 

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Taglines:

We are all disguised as ourselves.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some sexuality, brief nudity and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [Japan]

Country:

UK Ireland France USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 February 2012 (France)

Also Known As:

El secreto de Albert Nobbs

Filming Locations:

Iveagh Gardens, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland

Box Office

Budget:

$8,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$696,166 (USA) (27 January 2012)

Gross:

$3,014,541 (USA) (11 May 2012)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Chrysalis Films, Canal+, Irish Film Board

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Glenn Close first played Albert Nobbs in a 1982 off-Broadway stage production. She won the Obie Award.

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Quotes

Helen: You are the strangest man I have ever met.

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Connections

Featured in Great Movie Mistakes IV (2012)

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Soundtracks

"Lay Your Head Down"
Music by Brian Byrne
Lyrics by Glenn Close
Performed by Sinéad O'Connor

User Reviews

women's relationships

The three movies that I've seen that Rodrigo García (son of Colombian author Gabriel García Márquez) directed deal with women's relationships: "Things You Can Tell Just By Looking at Her", "Mother and Child" and now "Albert Nobbs". In the latter, Glenn Close plays a woman posing as a man in 19th century Dublin and working as a butler in a posh hotel. When the hotel owner hires a painter named Hubert Page (Janet McTeer), Albert soon finds out Hubert's secret. From there, relationships with other staff members proliferate.

The movie brings up several issues. Aside from Ireland's status as a British colony in the 19th century, there's the social hierarchy in the hotel, and the forbidden relationships. Albert's posing as a man is partially because of some haunting experiences, but also because women didn't have as many opportunities open to them back then. As a result of his hiding in this male persona, Albert has been hiding from himself, one might say.

All in all, I thought that this is a very well done movie. Close looks eerily gaunt in the role, easily passing as a man, while Mia Wasikowska, playing a maid, has the perfection balance of strength and fragility. I recommend the movie. Also starring Aaron Johnson (John Lennon in "Nowhere Boy"), Pauline Collins, Brendan Gleeson, Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Maria Doyle Kennedy.