Blue Road: The Edna O'Brien Story

Local title
Sinine tee. Edna O'Brieni lugu
Director
Sinéad O'Shea
Year
2024
Festival
Kumu Dokumentaal 2026
Programme
Subject

The fearless Irish literary icon Edna O’Brien reflects on a storied and scandalous life.

In 1960 the young Irish woman Edna O’Brien wrote a sexually frank debut novel, The Country Girls. She became a literary sensation, writing for The New Yorker, delivering provocative interviews and authoring screenplays. Her success enraged her writer husband and made her a pariah in her native Ireland, where her books were banned and burned. She made her home in London, where she conducted numerous love affairs, hosted star-studded parties, and made and lost a fortune.

At 93, just before her death, she gave an expansive interview for this documentary, which the director Sinéad O’Shea combines with moving archival footage. The result is a rousing and fitting tribute.

The film will be introduced by Krista Kaer, a translator and publisher.

Director
Sinéad O'Shea
Producer
Eleanor Emptage, Claire McCabe, Sinéad O'Shea
Cinematographer
Richard Kendrick
Editing
Gretta Ohle
Production
SOS Productions
Runtime
Language
Other festivals
Toronto, Seattle

Screenings

Kumu auditoorium KUMU
ScreeningSinine tee. Edna O'Brieni lugu