Alfie, a middle-aged Dublin bus conductor in 1963, lives with his sister Lily and feels a close affinity with Oscar Wilde. He would appear to live a life of quiet desperation: he's gay, but firmly closeted, and his sister is always trying to find him "the right girl". He works the bus route with his young friend Robbie and enchants his passengers by reciting poetry to them. He is inspired to stage Wilde's Salome when the young country girl Adele Bird steps aboard his bus one day.

The cast, consisting of his bus passengers, may lack finesse, or even talent, but Alfie is an indulgent, big-hearted director and slowly the players begin to enter into the spirit of the drama.

Despite opposition, Alfie continues with rehearsals and what follows is a comical and endearing series of events as Alfie learns about life and himself. He follows Wilde in his aspiration to "produce only one beautiful work of art in order to rob malice of its sneer and pluck out the tongue of scorn by its root."

Alfie Byrne is secretly in love with the driver of his bus Robbie Fay who he lovingly calls 'Bosie'. Being gay in the 60's was hard and totally condemned by society.

As the film progresses he has more and more trouble being without any affection from a man. At one time he decides to make a bold move.

A good movie that shows life as it was in Dublin in 1963. It is easy to get used to the slower pace. Somehow it is interesting enough to keep you seated and curious how it will turn out. His fascination with Oscar Wilde is inspiring especially for everyone who knows a thing or two about this glorious writer. For references you could also see Wilde.

It is hart breaking to see how gay people had to suffer in those days. Not only did they hear it from everyone else but also in their mind they thought that being gay was immoral and totally unacceptable. They even didn't want to talk about it. It was reffered to as the love that dare not speak it's name.

Robbie: Don't you be dirtying that nice clean bus, now.
Alfie: You have it lovely, Bosie. I can see myself in it, like Narcissus.
Robbie: You're at it again.
Alfie: At what?
Robbie: That stuff you do. Big words. Poetry.

Alfie: The only way to get rid of temptation, is to yield to it.

Alfie: Dancing is neither modest or immodest. It's either well-done, or badly done.
Christy: Is that a quote?
Alfie: Almost.

Alfie: I've learned a horrible lesson.
Adele: About me.
Alfie: About myself.

Alfie: She is like a dove that has strayed. She is like a Narcissus trembling in the wind. She is like a silver flower.
Robbie: You know what I think?
Alfie: What, Bosie?
Robbie: I think you're soft on her.

Alfie: Me own boy
Robbie: None of that now! I know where you’ve been....I don’t care what your up to. I like ya - you’re me pal. And I know who this Bosie was and all!

Video

DVD