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2025 SFFILM Festival

Blue Road: The Edna O’Brien Story

Directed by Sinéad O’Shea

Ireland | Documentary | 99

19 Apr
Sat, Apr 19 at 2:45 pm PT
20 Apr
Sun, Apr 20 at 11:30 am PT

Description

No wallflower, literary sensation Edna O’Brien’s sexually explicit novels enthralled readers for decades; simultaneously inspiring generations of writers while infuriating power brokers who banned her books. Ignoring prevailing norms of puritan propriety, O’Brien was renowned for her wild parties, lavish lifestyle, passionate affairs, and most notably, her radiant voice. A trailblazer who bucked convention until her passing in 2024, O’Brien was the ultimate maverick. Her life, both the bitter and the sweet, is captured in this beautifully compiled film. Director Sinéad O’Shea blends diary entries (read by Jessie Buckley), footage of O’Brien with luminaries such as Paul McCartney, Sean Connery, and Jane Fonda, as well as exclusive late life interviews with the scribe herself. Frank and funny, this documentary will lift your spirits and return you to O’Brien’s wondrous writing. —Jessie Fairbanks

Director Sinéad O’Shea

Sinéad O’Shea, a native of Navan, County Meath, Ireland is a writer, journalist, and filmmaker. Her short films include A Mother Brings Her Son to Be Shot (2017) and Humblebrag (2019). She made her feature documentary debut with Pray for Our Sinners (2022).

Film Details

LanguageEnglish

Year2024

Runtime99

CountryIreland, UK

DirectorSinéad O’Shea

ProducerClaire McCabe, Eleanor Emptage, Sinéad O'Shea

Executive ProducerBarbara Broccoli, Katie Holly, Niamh Fagan, Jack Oliver, Kathryn Ferguson

EditorGretta Ohle

CinematographerEoin McLoughlin, Richard Kendrick

MusicRichard Skelton, George Brennan

Closed CaptionsClosed Captions are confirmed for this film

Audio DescriptionAudio Descriptions are not currently confirmed for this film

American Sign Language (ASL) InterpretationAmerican Sign Language Interpretation is not currently scheduled for this film