"The Lonely Battle of Thomas Reid"

Dickie10

has anyone seen this movie? seems a fascinating story. anyone know where its showing

Grueller

Dickie10 wrote: »

has anyone seen this movie? seems a fascinating story. anyone know where its showing

I would love to go see it too.

eeeee

Was in the IFI two weeks ago I think, it was absolutely brilliant. I know the guy who shot it too, it's extremely interesting narratively too. He played himself in it.

www.lonelybattle.com

jimmymack

http://www.tseac.ie/events/e/2483

It's on in the Naul in North County Dublin this Thursday.

Dickie10

might head over

jfh

Belltable in limerick tomorrow

Tarzann

I went to see this in Maynooth University last night, was lucky to get in as hadn't bought a ticket in advance and there was huge interest among locals. Thomas was there as it is only a few miles from his house. There was a Q+A with the producer and Thomas after the movie which I wasn't expecting and was very interesting.

Thomas could be described as a conspiracy theorist in some regards. During the Q+A he suggested his lands have been poisoned to intimidate him, and that the CIA had been watching him daily, with a man patrolling the perimeter of his farm to keep an eye on him. He also sees Germany as the source of the 10 million he was offered, with a theory linked back to the Berlin Wall construction after WW2. He also said he wished the movie showed the underhand role of Kildare Councy Council in the whole process from the very start.

I'd be interested to hear what the farmers on here thought of the condition of Thomas' farm in general. He is shown in the movie heading off with a knapsack sprayer and soon after we get a slow motion close up of a huge area of thistles and their seeds being carried by the wind. I read an article from the journal.ie about his case from 2 yrs ago, long before this movie, and somebody in the comments was implying that neighbouring farmers were suffering for his poor practices and wished he was forced to sell.
He is also shown using a sprong and the blade of a scissors to clean muck off the timber where he feeds silage to the cattle at the edge of a field, appeared to me to be totally unnecessary task for any farmer, this was being done while plastic was strewn all around the place.

For anyone who has seen the movie and wants a bit more info, the Irishman Abroad podcast did an interview with the makers of the film about 3 weeks ago, well worth a listen. The most interesting thing I learned from the podcast was that Thomas was not the only option for Intel, other neighbouring farmers were willing to sell similar acreage but would have cost more and that on a spreadsheet somewhere, Thomas farm was valued at €2 million less and this was the route that got pursued and that he was lied to every step of the way. I'd be interested to find out if any other farmer has since sold land to Intel or is in the process of doing so.

In summary it is well worth a watch and will stay with you long after you've watched it.

Muckit

A man/woman should be allowed to be as eccentric as he/she wants so long as they aren't harming anyone or breaking any laws.

But nobody IMO should have the power to forceably take anothers lands or possessions outside of CPO for road infrastructure.

_Brian

I sat in a meeting one day, the amount of land Intel already own in that area is plenty sufficient for development without need to steal this mans land.

They own land which is let back to the previous owners for little to keep the area looking “natural”

cosatron

Muckit wrote: »

A man/woman should be allowed to be as eccentric as he/she wants so long as they aren't harming anyone or breaking any laws.

But nobody IMO should have the power to forceably take anothers lands or possessions outside of CPO for road infrastructure.

agreed. I just read up about him and it would make you sick to think where this once proud farming nation is heading.

Aravo

Would love to see it. Wasn't the big problem here land hoarding. And the IDA were the ones doing the CPO. IDA wanted the land for future use, with no plans in place. CPO's are meant to be for the public good and for a specific purpose with specific plans. For roads, housing etc. And recently Greenway's are mentioned. With bord na Mona moving away from peat, surely this may open up land for Greenway's. Loads of large bogs near, wooded areas, rivers, towns and villages. No need to put a Greenway through good land as is planned in some parts.

Dickie10

went into Maynooth last night to try and see would i get into see it, but unfortunatly i was turned away, the woman said up to 50 people werre turned away. they tool my number and told me it would be showing again in maynooth in january

sportsfan90

It's being shown on Rte tomorrow night.

Muckit

sportsfan90 wrote: »

It's being shown on Rte tomorrow night.

Good man. Have it set to record

Odelay

Looking forward to it, should be interesting.

toleratethis

Tarzann wrote: »

I'd be interested to hear what the farmers on here thought of the condition of Thomas' farm in general. He is shown in the movie heading off with a knapsack sprayer and soon after we get a slow motion close up of a huge area of thistles and their seeds being carried by the wind. I read an article from the journal.ie about his case from 2 yrs ago, long before this movie, and somebody in the comments was implying that neighbouring farmers were suffering for his poor practices and wished he was forced to sell.
He is also shown using a sprong and the blade of a scissors to clean muck off the timber where he feeds silage to the cattle at the edge of a field, appeared to me to be totally unnecessary task for any farmer, this was being done while plastic was strewn all around the place.

It sounds as if there is significant pressure on the man. Dealing with, being forced to deal with people who want to push you off your land can be an all consuming thing. If his neighbours are more worried about thistles than their neighbour, maybe that says a lot about his neighbours?

wrangler

toleratethis wrote: »

It sounds as if there is significant pressure on the man. Dealing with, being forced to deal with people who want to push you off your land can be an all consuming thing. If his neighbours are more worried about thistles than their neighbour, maybe that says a lot about his neighbours?

He probably could buy multiples of his present farm with what he's getting offered to move

TPF2012

wrangler wrote:

He probably could buy multiples of his present farm with what he's getting offered to move

Money isn't everything to people. Maybe that farm is in his family for generations and hold a place in his heart.
Our farm here is marginal ground but I would not swap it for 200 acres of the best of land. It has a history and it ties you to a place, neighbours and family. Money can't buy that.

_Brian

wrangler wrote: »

He probably could buy multiples of his present farm with what he's getting offered to move

It’s his choice though and trying to bully him definitely wasn’t the route to go down.

wrangler

_Brian wrote: »

It’s his choice though and trying to bully him definitely wasn’t the route to go down.

Had land here CPO'd , spending legal fees against it definitely wasn't the route to go down either.
6ft by 2ft will be enough land for us all in the end

patsy_mccabe

RTE 1 at 9.30 tonight.

Bullocks

wrangler wrote: »

_Brian wrote: »

It’s his choice though and trying to bully him definitely wasn’t the route to go down.

Had land here CPO'd , spending legal fees against it definitely wasn't the route to go down either.
6ft by 2ft will be enough land for us all in the end

Less if we get cremated

alps

wrangler wrote: »

Had land here CPO'd , spending legal fees against it definitely wasn't the route to go down either.
6ft by 2ft will be enough land for us all in the end

CPO'd being the operative term...for the good of the nation...

Huge resentment to CPO's being used in what IFA argue is incorrect use, to secure land for greenways in Kerry and elsewhere..

Odelay

He endures hardship. Someone before him was a progressive farmer.

greenfield21

There's a few lads like him in every area
.

Butcher Boy

jesus things are fairly rough there.if a spark comes out of the fire the show is over.

boggerman1

Fair play to the harmless old sod for not selling out.he's happy out and knows no better.its gripping viewing cause we all know or have heard of characters like him.

zetecescort

Some nice stone buildings in his yard, shame to see things like that and their history be lost.

NIMAN

Heard it was a masterpiece.

There's a fine line between masterpiece and awful boring!

Slowest film ever?

Say my name

He really needs a bit of time off farm.
Even a farming holiday abroad with someone looking after the farm while he's gone.

Those few acres and house has become his hindrance and sanctuary from the world at the same time.

There was a bachelor farmer I knew lived like that years ago in a neglected farmhouse. Thankfully a few years before his death he set the land and moved into a brand new house the council built for him on the farm.

Fair play to him and all but he has a terrible existence.

NIMAN

Is this actually Thomas Reid Himself?

If so, the director got him to re-enact scenes with ida staff? (actors obviously)

greenfield21

It's like we're seeing a constant intro to some main story line that never comes. I don't know why we need to see a 100 different shots of him going about his day.

Say my name

NIMAN wrote: »

Is this actually Thomas Reid Himself?

If so, the director got him to re-enact scenes with ida staff? (actors obviously)

The one and same.

Schwiiing

He's 55 and knows nothing else only his farm. He couldn;t start a new life from here. If he got the 10 million he'd be shot and robbed with in a week.

Muahahaha

NIMAN wrote: »

Heard it was a masterpiece.

There's a fine line between masterpiece and awful boring!

Slowest film ever?

Was wondering the same myself, there is next to nothing happening bar shots of the farm overlaid with radio interviews.

€10m he refused for the farm, the IDA just didnt get that he is not interested in money. They completely misunderstood him.

Water John

Young man in Cork was offered €11M before the crash for a farm with gravel. Said no, this guy is a progressive dairy farmer. He just wasn't interested in moving.
I suppose if most farmers were simply accountants/economists, it's not the business we'd be in.

mf240

I'd say he'd of got 12 million if he'd asked 14 and devided it. I'd of took the arm off them for it.

patsy_mccabe

He could do with a gas dehorner, among other things.

Nobody should have their land cpo'd for a private business. Major infrastructure for the country only.
The IDA should be ashamed of he they treated this man.

mf240

patsy_mccabe wrote: »

He could do with a gas dehorner, among other things.

Theres a lad like him in every parish. Painful to look at

Water John

I would take the money too, but that isn't the question.

Keep Sluicing

Fine stack of bales

E mac

To the IDA in my best Nelson voice ...Haa Haa!

Injuryprone

Some fine looking animals too. Very calm and placid even with a film crew of strangers in the yard

memorystick

A well made film capturing the reality of one man' struggle. Fair play to him. I wish my wife would adopt a less consumerist approach to the house.


Is the soundtrack out yet?

NIMAN

I'm surprised they managed to get him to do the acting bits.

He lives in a kip, like one of those extreme hoarders you see on TV. In their own filth. A sad life, even if you have got morals.

Say my name

No animals were harmed in the making of this motion picture.

Muahahaha

Yeah he lives a very meagre existence. He must be given credit though for his stand. The IDA wont be pulling any more stunts like that on farmers. I wonder did he ever receive compensation for what they put him through, it was a 7 year battle of trying to grind him down which is something the film didnt really get across.

kk.man

NIMAN wrote: »

I'm surprised they managed to get him to do the acting bits.

He lives in a kip, like one of those extreme hoarders you see on TV. In their own filth. A sad life, even if you have got morals.

I think that's an unfair assessment of him. Everyone to their own etc.

But as a fella would say about him around here 'there is no cure for that'.

10m would be too good to turn down but not everyone sees the world through the same eyes.

Fair play to him for sticking to his guns.

NIMAN

NIMAN wrote: »

I'm surprised they managed to get him to do the acting bits.

He lives in a kip, like one of those extreme hoarders you see on TV. In their own filth. A sad life, even if you have got morals.

There's plenty living in worse..... He's likely quite content in his own way.
Loads of Intel folk stressed off their heads in nice houses no doubt :pac:

NIMAN

Muahahaha wrote: »

Yeah he lives a very meagre existence. He must be given credit though for his stand. The IDA wont be pulling any more stunts like that on farmers. I wonder did he ever receive compensation for what they put him through, it was a 7 year battle of trying to grind him down which is something the film didnt really get across.

Funny, it felt like it lasted 7 years