An award-winning film telling the inspirational story of Christina Noble who epitomises the fighting spirit of the Irish.
Noble by name: Deirdre O’Kane as Christina Noble with two of her wards
Such a story could have inspired a great film and deserved to do so, but while one does not doubt the sincerity of Stephen Bradley, the writer-director of Noble, this picture fails to measure up. The tale is not told chronologically even if it does start in Dublin in 1955 since we soon move on to Ho Chi Minh City in 1989 and then keep cutting back and forth to fill in earlier events in Ireland and in England. This proves rather disruptive, but the real problem stems from the film’s tone. The harsh realism of, say, The Magdalene Sisters (2002) is missing entirely, and nor does Bradley succeed in emulating the balance between popular appeal and depth of feeling present in Philomena (2013). Instead, despite authentic Vietnamese locations and a spirited performance by Bailey’s wife Deirdre O’Kane playing Christina in middle age, Noble emerges as a sentimentalised and unpersuasive account. Typical is the scene in which applying to the Vietnamese authorities for a work permit Christina (who as a child had been inspired by Doris Day) starts to sing to them. The actual music score, much present and constantly seeking to manipulate our emotions, adds to the sense of unreality in the telling of this true story.
Since this could all be seen as a matter of taste, it is only fair to say that Noble has won awards including four audience awards at festivals. This proves that some people do respond positively to Bradley’s approach, one epitomised by the tag line on the poster: ‘A dream that changed a million lives’. Best test of all is your response to the written words which, concluding the film, declare that ‘She still talks to God and still loves Doris Day’. Íf that strikes you as touching and apt, you may love this movie.
MANSEL STIMPSON
Cast: Deirdre O’Kane, Sarah Greene, Brendan Coyle, Liam Cunningham, Ruth Negga, Nhu Quynh Nguyen, Mark Huberman, Gloria Cramer Curtis, David Mumeni, Ngoc Tu’o’ng Le, Nguyen Khoa Tien Dat.
Dir Stephen Bradley, Pro Melanie Gore-Grimes and Stephen Bradley, Screenplay Stephen Bradley, based on books by Christina Noble and her life story rights, Ph Trevor Forrest, Pro Des Cristina Casali, Ed Mags Arnold, Music Giles Martin and Ben Foster, Costumes Charlotte Walker.
Ansty Productions/Destiny films/The Irish Film Board etc-Miracle Communications.
101 mins. UK/Ireland. 2013. Rel: 12 February 2016. Cert. 15.
