Film: Blue Road - The Edna O' Brien Story

I'm back to Ireland for the weekend.. where today's film was Blue Road: The Edna O' Brien Story. Now, the writer Edna O' Brien was originally from Clare - and sure enough, it's only showing in Ennis. This documentary has Jessie Buckley reading her journals, and also features Gabriel Byrne.

Arrived in good time - there was a decent crowd, as you'd expect with this being the only venue! And the verdict is - I never realised she had such a fascinating life. My mother tells stories of how she was asked, when she was working in the UK, to bring back a copy of The Country Girls, which - like all Edna O' Brien's books at one time - was banned in Ireland! Too racy, I guess.. and Edna's personal life was just as controversial, with her running off with an older man (a divorcé, and a Communist, to boot!), and being tracked down by her family, who tried to drag her off with them..

They ultimately married. He was a writer too, and absurdly jealous when she started to write, and became more successful than he was - she eventually left him, after a row about him wanting her to pass her publisher's cheques over to him. She had enough coming in to buy a lovely place in Chelsea - where she apparently threw the most remarkable parties! Marianne Faithfull, lots of famous actors, anyone who was anyone, seems to have attended - Gabriel Byrne did so too, and talks about them. Unfortunately, she never was any good with money - and after a period where she didn't work, and finding herself cash-strapped, she sold the place for much, much less than it was worth. Rented a small London flat thereafter.

What was also interesting for me was the fact that she was born and raised just outside Scarriff, where I went to secondary school - and so, naturally, did she! There's some fascinating old footage of the town. Mind you, I'm not surprised she wasn't a regular visitor after becoming famous, considering they actually burned her books..!

She died last year, not long after her last interview for the film - by which stage she was frail and confined to a wheelchair. But wow, what a life - fascinating even if you have no interest in her works, or personal connection to her! I don't know how widely it's showing, mind - but I think this would be interesting to most. I came out behind a group of women who remarked to each other how appropriate it was to see this, on St. Brigid's Day! (One also had a tale of meeting her in the Waldorf, in London, and how "superior" she was..)

Back in London, on Monday, I'm thinking film again - and delighted to see that what's coming up - highest-rated that is showing when I can see it, and that I'm interested in - is Companion. I hadn't much interest in this until I saw the trailer on Tuesday, and that it was from the makers of the excellent Barbarian.. it actually looks really innocent until you look deeper! "Deliciously wicked" it says in the trailer - and it does look it. Looking forward to it! Curzon Aldgate again.

Then, three Meetups in a row. On Tuesday, back with Up in the Cheap Seats at last - we're headed to The Years, at the Harold Pinter - cheapest tickets from the official venue, as often happens. They're in the Balcony - I don't trust the legroom up there, so I'm in the front row of the Stalls; I'd rather a neck ache than cramped knees! and it's the same price. Another one with no interval, I see - that's really becoming a feature. Booked at Bella Italia Cranbourne Street this time - there's never been a problem with service there, and it's much more relaxed.

On Wednesday, I'm back with the 45+ Not Grumpies for Paul's February Pub Crawl. We're starting at the Lion & Unicorn in Waterloo Station, where we'll also eat, then heading - well, towards home for me, finishing at London Bridge! Very convenient.

And on Thursday, I'm with a new group, 45+ Solos Socializer, for a comedy night at Candlemaker Smok'd, which is a pub with a BBQ menu. Anyway, they do comedy too on Thursdays, Saturdays, & Sundays, and are offering 30% off bookings for both comedy and food until the 16th. Apparently, the organiser is booking a table for us all - we just have to worry about booking the comedy.

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