Is Edna O'Brien: Fearful... and Fearless Worth Watching? Honest Movie Review & Audience Verdict (2019)

📖 The Core Premise

With the release of Edna O'Brien: Fearful... and Fearless (2019), audiences are invited back into the world of Documentary. At its heart, the film explores complex themes wrapped in a compelling storyline. As the plot unfolds, we see characters navigating a world where stakes are high. "Edna O’Brien is one of the greatest literary talents and rule breakers of her generation. In 1960, her revolutionary debut novel, The Country Girls, broke down social and sexual barriers for women and was subsequently banned in her native country of Ireland. The awrd-winning O’Brien continues to produce some of the most urgent work of her unparalleled career, with her eighteenth novel, Girl, a searing story inspired by the schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram, to be published later this year. In this honest and engaging documentary, Edna O’Brien reflects on her remarkable and ongoing writing life, interwoven with actors who perform extracts from her novels and rare family archive footage."

🎬 Performance & Direction

A movie's success often hinges on its execution. Alan Yentob attempts to elevate the material, but the direction leaves them with little to work with. The direction aims to balance pacing with character development, a hallmark of good Documentary. While there are moments of brilliance, the pacing occasionally dips.

🤔 Why You Should Watch (or Skip)

Is Edna O'Brien: Fearful... and Fearless worth your time? If you appreciate Documentary films that take risks, this is likely a decent one-time watch. However, if you are looking for a flawless masterpiece, you might find some plot points predictable.

🏆 Final Verdict

Ultimately, Edna O'Brien: Fearful... and Fearless misses the mark on several fronts. With a runtime of 65 minutes, it asks for a significant time investment, but for the right audience, it pays off.

Our recommendation: Skip It.