Albert Nobbs
A lonely Dublin hotel waiter living under a concealed identity reaches for love, independence, and a more livable future.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- melancholic
- intimate
- restrained
- quiet evening
- period drama night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the story worthy and Glenn Close’s central performance compelling, while viewing the film as uneven overall.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Albert’s carefully maintained public persona as a male hotel waiter structures his relationships and ambitions.
Albert and Hubert navigate gender through dress, behavior, work, marriage, and public recognition.
The hotel workplace, class hierarchy, and nineteenth-century Irish society limit Albert’s choices.
Albert saves money to open a business and secure a life beyond servitude and isolation.
Films like Albert Nobbs, and why
The Danish Girl
shared period setting, gender identity themes, and restrained tragic drama
Portrait of a Lady on Fire
shared intimate period drama, social confinement, and queer subtext
The Crying Game
shared gender disguise, identity concealment, and melancholic social drama
Movie Details
- Director
- Rodrigo García
- Release Date
- 2011-12-21
- Runtime
- 113 min
- Rating
- 6.3 / 10 (534)
Cast
- Glenn Close
- Mia Wasikowska
- Aaron Taylor-Johnson
- Janet McTeer
- Pauline Collins
- Brenda Fricker
- Jonathan Rhys Meyers
- Brendan Gleeson
- Maria Doyle Kennedy
- Antonia Campbell-Hughes
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Albert Nobbs about?
- A lonely Dublin hotel waiter living under a concealed identity reaches for love, independence, and a more livable future.
- What is Albert Nobbs like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Albert Nobbs as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Albert Nobbs violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Albert Nobbs.
- What did critics think of Albert Nobbs?
- Critics broadly found the story worthy and Glenn Close’s central performance compelling, while viewing the film as uneven overall.
- Which films are like Albert Nobbs?
- Films with a similar feel include The Danish Girl, Portrait of a Lady on Fire, and The Crying Game.
- How long is Albert Nobbs?
- Albert Nobbs runs 113 minutes.
- Where can I watch Albert Nobbs?
- In United States, Albert Nobbs is available to rent or buy from Google Play Movies, YouTube.
