*Worldwide Rights
blue road - the edna o’brien story
directed by sinead o’shea
Ireland, UK / 99 Mins / English
Synopsis:
In 1960, Edna O'Brien, a young Irish woman, made a sensational literary debut with The Country Girls, sparking controversy in Ireland, where her books were banned and burned. She moved to London, where she led a vibrant life, hosting star-studded parties, conducting love affairs, and building a fortune. O'Brien passed away in July 2024 at 93, and in her final testimony for filmmaker Sinéad O'Shea, she reflects on her extraordinary life. Blue Road features readings from her personal journals by Jessie Buckley, with insights from Gabriel Byrne, Walter Mosley, and other notable writers.
Logline:
A portrait of one of the world’s greatest and most charismatic writers, Irish author Edna O’Brien.
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“The most exciting movies at the Venice-Toronto film festivals” - Vulture
“Sinead O’Shea’s spirited documentary is a fitting tribute… [A] warm, empathetic documentary... It’s executed in the same spirit of openness and friendship that O’Brien brought to her own headlong passions and you get the feeling that, yes, she’d think it got her right… An arresting portrait of what makes an author.” - Screen International
“[An] engaging documentary. A fitting tribute." - Variety
"[A] gift of a documentary. 'Blue Road' finds the blazing truth in famed author Edna O'Brien's remarkable career." - The Film Verdict
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Sinéad O’Shea is a filmmaker and writer who was born in Navan, Ireland, and now lives in Dublin. She’s made the documentaries A Mother Brings Her Son to Be Shot (17) and Pray for Our Sinners, which premiered at TIFF ’22. She’s also a contributing writer for The New York Times and The Guardian. Blue Road: The Edna O’Brien Story (24) is her latest film.
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2024
World Premiere: TIFF
US Premiere: DOC NYC, USA (Opening Film)
Irish Premiere: Cork IFF, Ireland
Hamptons Documentary FF, USA
2025
Palm Springs IFF, USA
Santa Barbara IFF, USA
Solas Nua’s Capital Irish FF, USA
CPH:DOX, Denmark
Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival, USA
Full Frame FF, USA
It's all true Intl. Documentary Festival, Brazil
San Francisco FF, USA
Seattle International Film Festival, USA
Biografilm Festival, Italy
Sydney FF, Australia
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Year: 2024
Country: Ireland, UK
Length: 99 mins
World Premiere: TIFF 2024
Director: Sinead O’Shea
Producer: Claire McCabe, Eleanor Emptage, Sinéad O'Shea
Cinematographer: Eoin Mc Loughlin, Richard Kendrick
Editor: Gretta Ohle
Screenplay: Sinéad O'Shea
Music: Richard Skelton, George Brennan
Executive Producers: Barbara Broccoli, Katie Holly, Niamh Fagan, Jack Oliver, Kathryn Ferguson
Cast: Edna O'Brien, Jessie Buckley, Gabriel Byrne, Carlo Gebler, Sasha Gebler, Walter Mosley