The Fundy Film Society

Albert Nobbs

Albert Nobbs

Working as a butler in a high-end hotel in Dublin, Nobbs (Glenn Close) lives an intensely private and solitary life, closely guarding a secret. When a stranger (Janet McTeer, Tideland) is hired on to paint the interior of the hotel, Nobbs finds herself forced to share a room with the overbearing gentleman, and the surpris­ing truth quickly emerges. Terrified by what this possible exposure could mean, Nobbs quickly discovers they have more in com­mon than meets the eye – both are women, who for very different reasons, have decided to live their lives disguised as men. With this in common, the two form a fast friendship, and Nobbs begins to dream of a life similar to that of her new friend’s – complete with a home, a shop, and a wife to call her own.

Fifteen years in the making, Albert Nobbs is the highly anticipated feature by acclaimed director Rodrigo García (Mother and Child). It is based on a short story by Irish writer George Moore, a member of the Irish Literary Revival movement of the latter 19th and early 20th century. Glenn Close, who did a stage version of the story in 1982 not only stars in the film but also coproduced and cowrote this moving and effectual por­trait of one woman’s struggle with personal identity and self-assurance in 19th century Ireland.

Albert Nobbs is a fascinating character study that offers a glimpse into one indi­vidual’s personal struggle with gender and identity. Glenn Close delivers an understated and remarkable performance as a lonely and lost individual struggling to find hap­piness amidst a bleak existence. The supporting cast of characters includes Mia Wasikowska (Restless, Jane Eyre), Aaron Johnson (Nowhere Boy), and Brendan Gleeson (The Guard, In Bruges).