Albert Nobbs (2011)

Directed by: Rodrigo Garcia | 114 minutes | drama | Actors: Glenn Close, Mia Wasikowska, Aaron Johnson, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Brendan Gleeson, Janet McTeer, Mark Williams, Brenda Fricker, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Pauline Collins, Bronagh Gallagher, John Light, Antonia Campbell-Hughes, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Annie Starke, Kenneth Collard

The prize shower that accompanies Glenn Close during her career has not dried up for the time being. The film ‘Albert Nobbs’ is very skilfully made, not a classic, but takes on something magical with the lead role of Close. It is without a doubt one of the best acting performances of the actress.

The story of ‘Albert Nobbs’ – a woman impersonating a man to work in a hotel and thus escape the poorhouse – has appeared in book, stage and film form several times over the years, but probably some extra attention by the cast this time. In addition to Close, Brendan Gleeson and Janet McTeer are back on track, disguising the ignorance of the somewhat bigger names of the moment, Mia Wasikowski and Aaron Johnson, who show no sign of empathy in their character. Their paltry love affair does not want to burn, and makes you long for the characters portrayed by the older and better actors and actresses.

Director Rodrigo García (son of world-famous writer Gabriel García Marquez) can hardly fault the entire film. Gradually acquired by directing the American drama series ‘In Treatment’ (made in Dutch as ‘In Therapy’), he has already made a film with Glenn Close twice before, giving the still ambitious actress her dreamed screenplay (co-written by John Banville and Gabriella Prekop) had him direct with ideal lead roles.

The film also shows that it was the actress who made this choice. Close is almost always the centerpiece, but knows how to handle that great pressure; she carries the film with gusto, having starred in major films before, garnering five Oscar nominations in the first seven years of her career. But still playing the part of your life at 65, Close shouldn’t have expected that either.