REV25: BLUE ROAD - THE EDNA O’BRIEN STORY

Once described as "the most gifted woman now writing in English" by Philip Roth, Edna O’Brien was the charismatic, author of the groundbreaking The Country Girls (1960), and many other volumes of literature, drama, and nonfiction. 

Now regarded as one of the greats of Irish literature, on publication, her debut novel was condemned by the government and the Church. 

Blue Road tells Edna O’Brien’s story through a wealth of archive footage, the author’s own diaries and letters, beautifully read by Jessie Buckley, and interviews conducted with the author in her final year, alongside contributions from family, friends and fellow writers. 

Weaving these strands together Sinéad O’Shea creates an exceptional portrait of the writer whose life and work challenged the patriarchal establishment, and inspired many readers and subsequent writers. 

There is something powerfully inspiring in both O’Brien’s life and work and in O’Shea’s documentary, which ultimately becomes a celebration of the author.

Feature Documentary | 2024 | Ireland

This feature is screened alongside the short film A Daydream With Fini (Grace Tan, Australia, 2024, 6:50 mins).