A Man of No Importance (1994)

The importance of being true to yourself
Alfie Byrne is loved by everyone.He is a simple bus conductor who has a passion for art-most importantly the plays of Oscar Wilde.He quotes Wilde,and produces Wilde's plays on an amateur level,yet unlike Wilde,Alfie has yet to reach the true knowledge of love for himself and his own sexuality.Through the works and life of Oscar Wilde,A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE is a cleverly constructed screenplay that allows Alfie Byrne,so admirably and convincingly portrayed by Albert Finney,to find true knowledge of himself and love in his life.
This film will be greatly enhanced by an acquaintance with Wilde's work and life in order to gain the maximum satisfaction and understanding.A viewing of the film WILDE will make A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE so much more enjoyable on all levels.
The songs LETS FALL IN LOVE and CAN'T GET USED TO LOSING YOU are used to great effect in this film.
All in all, this is an incredibly well written,well directed and beautiful tour-de-force of a film.

Simply beautiful
This is one of the most moving movies I have every seen. Albert Finney is forced by his peers to live a lie. He overcomes his homosexuality by quoting and putting on Oscar Wilde plays. No one in the movie every really does understand this complex character, very well acted by Finney.

Warm and Enjoyable, if sad.
Opening like a charming and lightweight Irish comedy, A Man of No Importance eventually proves to be more of a pathos-laden drama. Along the way however, it never fails of be warm, with Albert Finney a joy as the kind yet internally tortured ticket collector Alfie, who is inspired to mount a production of Salome, by his idol Oscar Wilde. Throughout the film we are treated not only to Finney, but also loveley turns by Tara Fitzgerald as Alfie's idealised Princess Salome, and Rufus Sewell as the bus driver, dubbed "Bosie," the object of ALfie's unrequited affections. The story could deteriorate into a weepy drama, but it never does, and the conclusion, although sad, is somewhat life-affirming. A great way to spend an evening.