Movie Review

Albert Nobbs
Disguise is freedom... or is it?

Release date: 2012

Rating: **1/2

By Katelyn Bright April 29, 2012

This drama that takes place in Ireland in the 19th century, tells the story of woman who wanted nothing more than the chance to be able to live out her dreams.

Opening the movie, you see a male figure serving in a fancy hotel for hoity toity passers by. But there is something peculiar about this male figure. He seems very alert, very quiet, always on guard. As the night winds down and guests retire to their rooms, so do the maids and butlers. Albert returns to his room to do his daily routine of counting his money that is stored under the floorboards of his room in the hotel where he stays.

Soon a painter by the name of Mr. Page comes to the hotel to make a few touch ups by Mrs. Baker, the hotel owner’s, bidding. Mr. Page’s job is one that will take a few days to finish, so he needs a place to stay while he is there to work. Mrs. Baker makes the proposal that Mr. Page share a bed with Mr. Nobbs. When Mr. Nobbs protests, the audience’s suspicions about him begin to rise. What is he hiding? Albert suggests that Mr. Page sleep on the couch downstairs. Mrs. Baker becomes outraged at this suggestion, and Albert has no choice but to allow Mr. Page to share a bed with him for the night.

That night, Albert returns to his room to retire for the night, finding Mr. Page already asleep in bed. As Albert lies down to rest without waking his unwanted guest, he suddenly starts to convulse. As he jumps out of bed, his surprise is not only revealed to the audience, but to Mr. Page as well. “Jesus, you’re a woman,” Page exclaims, as we see that Nobbs was trying desperately to unclasp the corset that was choking her. Nobbs automatically fell to her knees, begging Mr. Page not to let her secret out. Page promises to not tell, as long as Nobbs stops sniveling, as she was about to wake the others throughout the hotel.

The next day, Mr. Nobbs tries to serve Mr. Page while we works without intending to make things awkward, but fails. As he tries to thank Mr. Page for keeping her secret, Page pulls him aside to show Nobbs a secret of his own. As Page reveals what’s under his shirt, Nobbs is taken aback to discover Page is a woman as well.

Albert Nobbs continues to butler at the hotel, but day dreams of opening up her own tobacco shoppe with her hard earned money. She also dreams of having a wife alongside her to help run the shoppe.

As she dreams of these things, she wonders how in the world Page was able to have such success in the life she runs? By this time, Page has finished the painting tasks asked of Mrs. Baker, and has left the hotel. With so many questions to ask, Nobbs sets off to Page’s house for a visit. When he finds the house, a little woman opens the door, followed by Page. Nobbs is introduced to Kathleen and is invited to stay for supper. Page goes on to tell Nobbs her story and how she found Kathleen and how she’s adjusted to this life of being a man. Page tells Nobbs that any goal she has set in life, she should just go for it.

Nobbs then proceeds to make a move on one of the maid’s she’s had her eye on, Helen. But Helen is seeing Joe, the new boiler room worker. Even though Joe is abusive, Helen still continues to see him. Helen turns down the thought of “walking” with Mr. Nobbs, but Joe thinks it’s a great idea. He tells Helen that she should try and get things out of Mr. Nobbs. Joe’s main idea is to get money from Nobbs to sail to America. Helen goes out walking with Nobbs and gets a few things, but then he talks of opening up the shoppe with her, and Helen backs out.

Joe and Helen finally have a huge fight; Helen is pregnant and is warned that Joe will probably run out on her, even though he claims he won’t. Nobbs tries to defend Helen from Joe, but Joe knocks her down, causing her to hit her head really hard. Nobbs goes to lie down in bed, and ends up passing away. It is then discovered by society that she was a woman.

Mrs. Baker discovers Nobbs’ money and uses it to fix up and reopen the hotel, after it had been shut down due to a Typhoid outbreak. Mr. Page’s wife Kathleen had died from the outbreak. Helen has had her baby and is threatened to be thrown out into the streets. Mr. Page promises that she won’t let that happen, and it is implied that Page and Helen get together.

Although this movie may have been perceived as strange by some, I found it entertaining and enjoyed seeing it. I feel that it is a good movie to show for present times because of the gay rights movement. This movie shows the struggle that gays and lesbians face everyday; the risk of being judged and mistreated. The struggle, of course, was even more so in this film, not only because of the time period, but possibly also the setting. But it is still good to show here and now in America, because it shows the unjustness of the mistreatment of people who choose to live this way. All people are people, and we should all be treated equally.