Blue Road- The Edna O'Brien Story (12A)

Violence, language, references to domestic abuse, sex, drugs, suicide

This sobering and captivating documentary offers an intimate portrait of one of Ireland’s most provocative and influential writers.

Reflecting on her extraordinary life at 93, the film delves into her journey, from the controversial debut of The Country Girls in 1960 to her years of exile in London, where she became a literary sensation and weathered personal turmoil, while also gaining the respect of international audiences and critics.

Director Sinéad O’Shea explores both the public and private O’Brien: the woman who ignited outrage in Ireland, embraced passionate affairs, and boldly defied societal norms. Through candid readings of O'Brien's personal journals by Jessie Buckley, alongside contributions from figures like Gabriel Byrne and Walter Mosley, we are granted access to O’Brien’s sharp reflections on love, loss, and the price of fame.

The tone is poignantly heightened by O'Brien’s frailty, particularly as she reflects on her final years with quiet introspection. O’Shea puts O’Brien’s vulnerability at the forefront, allowing us to witness not just the artist’s life and legacy, but the raw truths she left behind for future generations.