A Man of No Importance

A Man of No Importance

An extraordinary tale of an ordinary hero

1994 · 99 min · ★ 6.2 · Comedy, Drama

Alfie Byrne is a middle-aged bus conductor in Dublin in 1963. He would appear to live a life of quiet desperation: he's gay, but firmly closeted, and his sister is always trying to find him "the right girl". His passion is Oscar Wilde, his hobby is putting on amateur theatre productions in the local church hall. We follow him as he struggles with temptation, friendship, disapproval, and the conservative yet oddly lyrical world of Ireland in the early 1960s.

Directed by Suri Krishnamma · Written by Barry Devlin

Your Rating

Where to Watch

Streaming

Rent or Buy

Cast

Albert Finney Alfred Byrne
Brenda Fricker Lily Byrne
Michael Gambon Ivor J. Carney
Tara Fitzgerald Adele Rice
Rufus Sewell Robbie Fay
Patrick Malahide Inspector Carson
David Kelly Christy Ward
Mick Lally Father Ignatius Kenny
Anna Manahan Mrs Grace
Joe Pilkington Ernie Lally
Brendan Conroy Rasher Flynn
Joan O'Hara Mrs Crowe

Make it a double feature

2h 54m together

A Man of No Importance

Iron Men

Both from Suri Krishnamma.

More from Suri KrishnammaSee all →

A View from a Window

A View from a Window · 1987

A View from a Window

Saleem, an elderly psychiatric patient, is partially paralysed and unable or unwilling to speak. When Kamala, a new student nurse, arrives, he begins to respond, encouraged by her gentle reassurance, and their common cultural identity.

South of the Border

South of the Border · 1988

South of the Border

SeriesDramaCrime

Female private detectives Pearl Parker and Finn Gallagher operate within the bustling multicultural communities of South London.

The Cazalets

The Cazalets · 2001

The Cazalets is a 2001 television drama series about the life of a large privileged family in the years 1937 to 1947. Most of the action takes place in London, and at the family's large estate in Sussex. The drama was based on the novels of Elizabeth Jane Howard, and adapted by the screenwriter Douglas Livingstone. The series was originally produced by Cinema Verity for BBC One and is available on DVD.

O Mary This London

O Mary This London · 1994

O Mary This London

MovieComedyDrama

Three young Dubliners go to London in search of fun, fortune and, in the case of 17-year-old Mary Kelly, an abortion. Homeless and jobless, their adventures quickly turn sour.

Sea of Souls

Sea of Souls · 2004

SeriesDramaMystery

Sea of Souls follows para-psychologist Monaghan and his two sidekicks from a fictitious Scottish University that investigates paranormal activity.

Cold Blood

Cold Blood · 2005

SeriesCrimeDrama

Despised serial killer Brian Wicklow is the only one who can locate the body of a young woman. But he's spent most of his incarceration playing mind-games with the authorities and talking in riddles. But there may finally be a man who can get to him: a former convict with a tormented past of his own.

Waking the Dead

Waking the Dead · 2001

Waking the Dead

SeriesCrimeMystery

A detective team apply new techniques to old crimes as they solve cold cases.

Screen Two

Screen Two · 1985

Series of single made-for-television dramas.

Water's Edge

Water's Edge · 1988

Lucy discovers the body of a Second World War pilot in the village pond.

A Respectable Trade

A Respectable Trade · 1998

A Respectable Trade

A four-part drama, set against the background of the English slave trade and adapted by Philippa Gregory from her novel.

Soldier Soldier

Soldier Soldier · 1991

Soldier Soldier

SeriesDramaWar & Politics

The daily lives of a group of soldiers in 'B' Company, 1st Battalion The King's Fusiliers.

Blue Murder

Blue Murder · 2003

SeriesCrimeDrama

Blue Murder is a British crime drama television series based in Manchester. Shown on ITV from 2003 until 2009 when it was cancelled by the network, it starred Caroline Quentin as DCI Janine Lewis.

The Librarians: The Next Chapter

The Librarians: The Next Chapter · 2025

The Librarians: The Next Chapter

SeriesAction & AdventureSci-Fi & Fantasy

A Librarian from the past time travels to the present and finds himself stuck here. When he returns to his castle, which is now a museum, he inadvertently releases magic across the continent. He is given a new team to help him clean up the mess he made, forming a new team of Librarians.

Dalziel and Pascoe

Dalziel and Pascoe · 1996

Dalziel and Pascoe

SeriesMysteryCrime

In the fictional Yorkshire town of Wetherton, the unlikely duo of politically incorrect elephant-in-a-China-shop-copper DS Andrew Dalziel (pronounced Dee-ell) and his more sensitive and university educated sidekick DS, later DI, Peter Pascoe is always on hand to solve the classic murder mystery, while maintaining down-to-Earth wit and humour.

Iron Men

Iron Men · 2017

MovieDocumentary

Behind the scenes and with the fans of West Ham United as they move to a new home after 112 years at Upton Park.

Casualty

Casualty · 1986

SeriesDramaSoap

Drama series about the staff and patients at Holby City Hospital's emergency department, charting the ups and downs in their personal and professional lives.

More Like This

My Father, Die

My Father, Die · 2016

MovieActionDrama

Deaf and mute since having his hearing knocked out at the age of 12, Asher has been training for almost two decades to avenge himself on Ivan, the man that killed his older brother, 21 years ago. And now that his nemesis is out of prison, he gets his chance. But Asher's target also happens to be his father.

Hitpig!

Hitpig! · 2024

MovieAnimationComedy

A porcine bounty hunter accepts his next hit: Pickles, a naive, ebullient elephant. Though he initially sets out to capture the perky pachyderm, the unlikely pair find themselves crisscrossing the globe on an adventure that brings out the best in both of them.

Riverdance: The Animated Adventure

Riverdance: The Animated Adventure · 2021

Riverdance: The Animated Adventure

MovieAnimationFantasy

A young Irish boy named Keegan and Spanish girl named Moya journey into a magical world of the Megaloceros Giganteus who teach them to appreciate Riverdance as a celebration of life. Based on the stage show phenomenon of the same name and featuring Bill Whelan’s multi-platinum Grammy Award-winning music.

The Yin-Yang Master: Dream of Eternity

The Yin-Yang Master: Dream of Eternity · 2020

The Yin-Yang Master: Dream of Eternity

MovieActionDrama

Every few hundred years, the most powerful demon on earth—a snake demon—awakens, and the Yin-Yang Masters are summoned to the capital. Meanwhile, the Princess of the realm has her own plans, as she conspires to claim the demon’s power.

Dirty 30

Dirty 30 · 2016

MovieRomanceComedy

On the eve of a Kate's 30th birthday, she agrees to let her two lifelong friends, Evie and Charlie, throw her a party. But what's supposed to be a simple celebration becomes a wild who's who of past and present, and things quickly spiral out of control.

Getting Go: The Go Doc Project

Getting Go: The Go Doc Project · 2013

Getting Go: The Go Doc Project

Too shy to make a proper introduction, a recent college grad devises to shoot a documentary about the NYC nightlife scene in order to meet the go-go guy he’s cyber-obsessed with.

Rate this film

Your ratings make Midnight smarter