I wasn't a fan of the Joyce piece, described as somewhere between a short story and a novella. Perhaps that it was the last piece in Dubliners, and I had had enough of Irish sentimentality, drinking, and cultural conservatism by then. But it was also that the bulk of the action and the denouement didn't seem to connect and make much sense. The movie, which is fairly faithful to Joyce, suffers from the same flaws. Still, I found it more enjoyable on the screen. It is still too sentimental for my taste, but the picture of this particular section of Irish society seems to be well drawn. So if its free or a couple of bucks, go for it.
