Albert Nobbs

"A man with a secret. A woman with a dream."

Feb 22 2012 R 1h 53m
Drama, Romance

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.

Plot

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. Albert's choice as a bride is his younger flirtatious co-worker Helen Dawes, who, unknown to Albert, is already in a sexual relationship with the brusque and sly Joe Mackins, another co-worker recently arrived to Morrison's. As Albert, Helen and Joe play their respective games of courtship, Albert may find that what seemed to come naturally to Hubert may be more difficult for him.

Written by

Gabriella Prekop, John Banville, Glenn Close

Directed by

Rodrigo García

Production Countries

United States of America, France, Ireland, United Kingdom

Production Companies

Mockingbird Pictures, Trillium Productions, Parallel Film Productions, Morrison Films, WestEnd Films, DragonCove Studios, Chrysalis Films, Canal+, Screen Ireland, Allen & Associates

Languages

English

Awards

Nominated for 3 Oscars. 19 wins & 43 nominations total

Scores
# of Votes
26,503
Average Rating
6.7 out of 10
Metascore
57
Popularity
NA