Product Details

• Actors: Ewan McGregor, Susan Lynch, Andrew Scott, Vinnie McCabe, Veronica Duffy
• Directors: Pat Murphy
• Writers: Pat Murphy, Brenda Maddox, Gerard Stembridge
• Producers: Ewan McGregor, Bradley Adams, Damon Bryant, Gherardo Pagliei
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Language: English, Italian
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: First Look Pictures
• VHS Release Date: May 21, 2002
• Run Time: 106 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000063K4B
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #356,475 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nora and Joyce: A Literary Genius and his Muse, June 4, 2001

By 

azindn (Arizona, USA) - See all my reviews

James Joyce (Ewan McGregor) finds his spiritual and sexual equal and partner in life in Nora Barnacle (Susan Lynch) when a young man in Dublin. Although he is a university student and she a maid at the local hotel, the two become lovers against the advise of Joyce's friends who lust after Nora themselves. Joyce convinces Nora to join him in Italy where he has a teaching position. The two begin their lives together living beyond their means, dressing fashionably, and fighting while raising children. Nora is anything but a quiet professor's wife, she is the life force that motivates him. Joyce, one of the major literary geniuses of the 20th century is revealed through the film that explores the volatile relationship between the couple. Susan Lynch won the Best Actress award at the Dublin Film Festival for her performance as the earthy muse whose presence was as much a torture to Joyce as inspiration. Ewan McGregor, in his first adult leading man role, proves he has matured as an actor of solid talent and sensitivity in his role as the jealous, insecure, yet brilliant writer. Shot on location in Ireland and Italy, Nora is a small independent film produced by McGregor's company, Natural Nylon, and likely to be overlooked by most audiences. However, if solid acting, adult story lines. and turn-of-the-century costume biopics are your cup of tea, this video is worth the price of purchase.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not interesting on its own, December 15, 2002

By 

atmj (Rochester, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Nora (DVD)

The story intriqued me. However, not knowing much about James Joyce, I was confused at what all the hub-bub was.

To me this was a story of a very troubled couple. The man James Joyce a soon to be famous writer in his earlier years, horribly insecure. The woman Nora Barnacle, a willful sexually risky young woman of her time, with a troubled past. They meet on the street and not being of the same "class" initially the relationship is very uneven. Soon however, they run off to Italy to escape not only both their pasts, but the puritanical restricts of Irish society of the day.

As their relationship is fierce, so is its ups and downs. They have children and James Joyce being a struggling writer takes much of his failures to heart and drowns them in the bottle. Needless to say this does not improve things. They are often forced to rely on family for support.

A bigger twist is placed in the relationship when James is forced to go back to Dublin for financial reasons to support the family. The already insecure man, is rattled by his friends attempt to meddle with his relationship with the former maid, now the mother of his two children. Once they make up they find a peculiar way of mitigating their distance, by writing torrid letters to one another. These letters apparently now part of James Joyce's writing.

Soon however, when James returns to Italy, he riles things up locally and Nora leaves him to return to Ireland.

The story continues.

I found this hard to understand at times, you never really have a clue who James Joyce is from the movie. I guess it is assumed you know. I don't. What triggers the initial attraction is also unexplained. Also surprising is the forwardness of Nora, so early in a budding relationship. Much is left very open. You don't see why Nora puts up with James, he is very cold to her and often very obnoxious. It seems more a sexual obsession for both. Needless to say, both come across as very self-centered and immature throughout the whole of the movie.

I gave it 3 stars because I felt things were not tied up well. The acting was well done, but the screenplay was lacking.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FOUND NORA BY ACCIDENT, December 23, 2002

By 

Patti J Bernazzani (Lorton, Virginia United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nora (DVD)

It was the 21 of December and I was busy into baking and wrapping but wanted something wonderful to watch on TV while I was buzzing around my house. On the Sundance Channel I found NORA and ended up sitting down and watching the entire movie...it was spellbinding. I did not know much about Joyce before this movie but it certainly makes you want to search for info on his life...Pat Murphy directing was flawless and the actors so suited to the roles. The photography was incredible. Wonderful movie - make sure you watch it.