It is incredible to think that Edna O’Brien grew up in a house with no books. It was an oppressive Catholic childhood in a small Irish town, but that didn’t stop this formidable woman from becoming a literary great. Blue Road – The Edna O’Brien Story is an intimate documentary and portrait of her life, which captures this incredible woman’s story in all its vivid glory.
Filmmaker Sinéad O’Shea writes and directs. O’Shea is given unprecedented access to the subject matter here, with O’Brien entrusting the director with her private journals that have never been published before; these are also full of sneering annotations from O’Brien’s mean ex-husband, Ernest Gébler.
Another important element in this film is one of O’Brien’s final interviews. She may be frail and over ninety-years-old at the time, but she is as feisty as ever; she even has to stop mid-interview and resumed things the following year. She would pass away shortly after it was conducted, but it is incredible to see her so eloquently reminiscing about her past.
O’Shea weaves together the many different chapters from O’Brien’s life here. There are interviews with various writers and academics, like Gabriel Byrne (who reads passages from her diary) and Walter Mosley, who give some background information. These different periods include the author’s childhood, where she was initially rejected by her mother, and once she matured the episode that saw O’Brien run away with Gébler. Other key interviews include chats with the couple’s sons, Carlo and Sasha Gebler. They describe the difficult marriage their parents shared, noting their father was a frustrated writer who was jealous of O’Brien’s fame, expecting his wife to sign over her paychecks in full to him. Fortunately, O’Brien had the wherewithal to leave him in time.
Against the tragedies of her life, Blue Road also celebrates her many triumphs. She made a fortune and was known for having star-studded parties at her mansion. She had some infamous lovers. But amidst all of this was her fair slice of adversity: cruel men such as an unnamed parliamentarian who robbed her of her creative muse and the period she lost her fortune. One thing is obvious though, through it all O’Brien was steadfast in maintaining her creative spirit, writing her letters and crafting that evocative voice for which she is renown.
It is Blue Road that perfectly captures it subject and her voice. It condenses so much into its 90-minute run time. It feels so authentic and true. Part of this is through actor Jessie Buckley reading from the writer’s private diaries. Everything is stitched together so lovingly with old interviews, new interviews, scenes from film adaptations of her novels and more, all of which come together so seamlessly. In short, it makes for a rich tapestry of different textures and emotions.
Blue Road is a rich portrait of an author who paved the way for the likes of the Sally Rooneys of today. Blue Road is a film that is as spirited as the independent woman at its core. This is ultimately an insightful and sensitive documentary that will introduce new generations of readers to the impressive wit and spirit of Edna O’Brien, a lady that defied the odds in so many ways and whose greatness is unparalleled.
FOUR STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Blue Road – The Edna O’Brien Story is screening as part of this year’s Sydney Film Festival, running between June 4th and 15th, 2025. For more information head to the official SFF page.
