The Pipe (Corrib Gas documentary) Megathread

mgmayo · 05-12-2010 1:51am #1

I saw The Pipe movie which opened last night for limited run. It traces the objection to the Corrib gas pipeline and witnesses the tenacity of those involved It is a very fine production in the fly on the wall documentary style. It's another national shame that this situation has been let go this far without resolution.

Iorras55 · 05-12-2010 10:58am

mgmayo wrote: »

I saw The Pipe movie which opened last night for limited run. It traces the objection to the Corrib gas pipeline and witnesses the tenacity of those involved It is a very fine production in the fly on the wall documentary style. It's another national shame that this situation has been let go this far without resolution.

I saw it too. It consists of film footage taken in Kilcommon, North Mayo over the last four or five years and tells a very sad story. It clearly shows that the Corrib Gas issue is NOT just a local issue. It is a NATIONAL DISGRACE that ordinary Irish people have been treated in this fashion in the Irish government's pursuit of giving away our natural resources to foreign Multi-national companies. More people across Ireland need to sit up and take notice. The Pipe the film is showing in your local area NOW!

T runner · 07-12-2010 3:36pm

Hi Folks,

Just letting you know of a film about the Shell to Sea controversy made over 4 years by reporter and filmmaker Richard O'Donnell. Richard took his camera everywhere it could go. I remember a report about a fishing boat attacked and boarded by Shell security men a few years back. The camera was there. Showing now in Dundrum, IFI, and Lighthouse.

Heres a synopsis:

In a remote corner of the West of Ireland sits Broadhaven Bay. It is
the perfect picture postcard, where the high cliffs of Erris Head and
the Stags of Broadhaven stand sentry at the mouth of the bay against
the mighty Atlantic, as if protecting the delicate golden sands of
Glengad beach and the tiny village of Rossport, which nestles behind
the dunes. However, this peaceful tranquility belies the turmoil that
lies beneath, and the unique nature of the coastline which has
sustained generations of farmers and fishermen, has also delivered to
Shell Oil the perfect landfall for the Corrib Gas Pipeline.
In the most dramatic clash of cultures in modern Ireland, the rights
of farmers over their fields, and of fishermen to their fishing
grounds, has come in direct conflict with one of the worlds most
powerful oil companies. When the citizens look to their state to
protect their rights, they find that the state has put Shell’s right
to lay a pipeline over their own.

The Pipe is a story of a community tragically divided, and how they
deal with a pipe that could bring economic prosperity or destruction
of a way of life shared for generations.

tunguska · 07-12-2010 10:04pm

I went to see a film in the ifi on friday and they showed the trailer for this documentary. Looks seriously volatile, should be good. Looking forward to seeing it.

T runner · 08-12-2010 4:04pm

tunguska wrote: »

I went to see a film in the ifi on friday and they showed the trailer for this documentary. Looks seriously volatile, should be good. Looking forward to seeing it.

Me too. The director is a very interesting guy. Initially a very serious boxer, he turned his attentions to mountain running. He is possibly the best descender in Ireland coming from behind many times to win races.

Hes a very dedicated journalist. Ive no doubt it will be comprehensive.
There was a good bit of trouble during the filming....all on tape it seems.

Iorras55 · 09-12-2010 12:04pm

T runner wrote: »

Me too. The director is a very interesting guy. Initially a very serious boxer, he turned his attentions to mountain running. He is possibly the best descender in Ireland coming from behind many times to win races.

Hes a very dedicated journalist. Ive no doubt it will be comprehensive.
There was a good bit of trouble during the filming....all on tape it seems.

'The Pipe' is not a regular film with actors playing parts etc.. There are no actors. It is a freelance news cameraman, Risteard O'Domhnaill who, coincidentally holds his degree in Theoretical Physics from Trinity College, Dublin, who lives in Mayo and often came running with his camera equipment when issues arose related to the Corrib Gas debacle which has been ongoing for more than ten years now. Still no pipeline laid onshore connecting the sea with the 'Frank Fahy & others brown envelope' refinery built 10 kms inland on Coillte land, with no permission to access the privately owned land inbetween. A real genuine FF gombeen politician mess - politicians who thought they could give away everything - including what they didn't own in the first place.

No actors. This is a film documentary and tells the story from the end of 2005 to early 2009. Much has happened since including poor Pat O'Donnell being sent to prison for seven months in 2010 on trumped up charges to get him removed from the sea. He was charged with loitering on the sea because he refused to be bought off by Shell and he's a fisherman!

I felt sick when I saw the footage as in 2006 when the protests took place each morning to the gates of Bellanaboy because it brought back those terrible memories of being abused and battered by the forces of the State and the victimisation of the local people who stood against the unodourised, high pressure, raw gas pipeline being forced onto their small farms and small bits of land by outsider and foreign forces. Its a sad story which shows the reality of life for the people of one small corner of Ireland for the last ten years. Everybody should see this film if they think the rest of the people of Ireland won't be treated in the same way in the future if they ignore it and mock it as being untrue or unreal.

A very important film documentary in your local cinemas now!

Miguel_Sanchez · 09-12-2010 12:36pm

I heard there's some pretty unflattering footage of Maura Harrington at a meeting in it.

Iorras55 · 09-12-2010 6:57pm

Jeff_Lebowski wrote: »

I heard there's some pretty unflattering footage of Maura Harrington at a meeting in it.

No actors there. This is real documentary footage. Why don't you see for yourself? You might learn how real communities work, squabbles and all! This footage only went to 2008. When the next one comes out you might see how a real community is stronger than mere squabbles. Ten years after this thing started and seven years after the gas was going to be flowing, they are not one bit further on in reality - no planning permission, no pipeline, no route, no consent, no gas. Don't hear -see for yourslef.

T runner · 10-12-2010 1:21pm

Jeff_Lebowski wrote: »

I heard there's some pretty unflattering footage of Maura Harrington at a meeting in it.

I saw it last night. One of the best scenes you'll see in any film anywhere this year!

lemula · 11-12-2010 1:55am

The Pipe is a extraordinary insight into the reaction of the local people to Shell's plans, whether you agree with this type of development or not. The film shows that it's not just the 'wrong crowd' who show up to demonstrate for what they believe in. Yes, some of those featured choose to go further than others, but it's high time we stopped letting that claim cloud the real and genuine voices of dissent from these ordinary hardworking people.

Shell refused to take part in the documentary so it's not a balanced view by any stretch, but this is a beautifully made, sensitive and thought provoking film. I'd urge anyone fed up with the current climate to go see it, and think about what can be achieved when communities pull together.

poochiem · 11-12-2010 3:23am

Brilliant film, saw it last week and recommend it to everyone no matter what political persuasion. It's much more than a documentary of protest it is a beautiful snapshot of the lives of Irish fishermen and farmers, their families and their communities; if it was subtitled from French they'd be queuing for tickets round the block

If you get a chance go see it

Patrickon · 12-12-2010 1:45pm

Yeah, The Pipe is a really important and beautiful film, so relevant for the current political climate. Well worth going to see.

Miguel_Sanchez · 12-12-2010 6:46pm

Iorras55 wrote: »

No actors there. This is real documentary footage.

We're all aware that it's a documentary and they're real people. I never said anything about actors being in it.

You should lay off the lecturing or you'll start putting people off seeing the film.

Mickeroo · 12-12-2010 7:36pm

I'm not sure i want to watch it, sounds like it's going to be pretty one sided, which would suggest propoganda to me. A balanced documentary would be well worth making on the subject.

T runner · 13-12-2010 12:08pm

Mickeroo wrote: »

I'm not sure i want to watch it, sounds like it's going to be pretty one sided, which would suggest propoganda to me. A balanced documentary would be well worth making on the subject.

The film follows the protest more or less and takes it from the point of view of locals. As people said you can judge for yourself if you are persuaded or not.

The cinematography, the David vs Goliath themes, the effect of such a clash of cultures which is clearly something that is replicated around the world, how people react confronted with a crises, waht hidden tensions and chasms are revealed by such a crises: all these themes are beautifully captured and as such it is a really beautiful film. Shell and teh governments side have been clearly documented by the vast majority of media reporting to date.

Mickeroo · 13-12-2010 1:38pm

T runner wrote: »

The film follows the protest more or less and takes it from the point of view of locals.

Point of view of all the locals or only the ones against it??

Edit:Not trying to start an argument or anything(wrong forum for a start :P), will most likely watch it at some point, but quite a few poeple I know aren't against the pipe line at all and the general consensus from anyone I know involved is most of the protestors and those kicking up a fuss were not from the immediate area or even from the county in some cases. If I were to express the general opinion most mayo people have of Maura Harrington and her actions I would probably get banned.

T runner · 13-12-2010 3:17pm

Mickeroo wrote: »

Point of view of all the locals or only the ones against it??

Edit:Not trying to start an argument or anything(wrong forum for a start :P), will most likely watch it at some point, but quite a few poeple I know aren't against the pipe line at all and the general consensus from anyone I know involved is most of the protestors and those kicking up a fuss were not from the immediate area or even from the county in some cases. If I were to express the general opinion most mayo people have of Maura Harrington and her actions I would probably get banned.

Ah i Know, were just chatting. The protest actually split between Maura Harrington etc and another group who were following less extreme lines: Shell illegally entering land to survey, breaches of European Law etc.

As far as I could see the locals who were directly affected by the Pipe were adamently against it. The film just captures what happenned from these peoples viewpoint. Whether one agrees with their viewpoint or how the film portrays them is important, but the films strenght is that it beautifully records this conflict whatever side we take.

losthorizon · 10-02-2011 8:59pm

I wonder have many people seen the documentary film The Pipe. It was only shown for one night at my local cinema and I didnt mange to get to see it but it was shown last night on TG4. I have to say it was one of the best documentary films I have ever seen. I know it was very one sided but it made my blood boil and it made me very angry (maybe that was the films intention). A stunning piece of work. It made the Guards look really really bad except for one or two fellows.

10-02-2011 9:04pm

The version shown on TG4 is drastically different from the one which played cinemas. From what I've been told, they edited a lot of the content out and the Irish speaking woman featured throughout is absent entirely from the cinema cut.

Sad Professor · 10-02-2011 9:07pm

I've merged this with two other threads that were hanging around.

losthorizon · 10-02-2011 9:08pm

Deleted User wrote: »

The version shown on TG4 is drastically different from the one which played cinemas. From what I've been told, they edited a lot of the content out and the Irish speaking woman featured throughout is absent entirely from the cinema cut.

Thanks! I might try and check out the cinematic version now to see how they differ.

Possum66 · 10-02-2011 9:59pm

Deleted User wrote: »

The version shown on TG4 is drastically different from the one which played cinemas. From what I've been told, they edited a lot of the content out and the Irish speaking woman featured throughout is absent entirely from the cinema cut.

I have just wanted to ask you all, how come it was different? Couldn't find any info about this online... I had seen the "English" version in Bray a couple of weeks ago, went home, and raved about it to my husband. Then sat down last night to watch it with him on TG4... Quite a surprise. Equally good, but why make two versions, I wonder? One for the home crowd, one for the outside world?

10-02-2011 10:02pm

Possum66 wrote: »

I have just wanted to ask you all, how come it was different? Couldn't find any info about this online... I had seen the "English" version in Bray a couple of weeks ago, went home, and raved about it to my husband. Then sat down last night to watch it with him on TG4... Quite a surprise. Equally good, but why make two versions, I wonder? One for the home crowd, one for the outside world?

TG4 provided funding for the project and I believe that in the contracts it demanded aan Irish version of the film aswell as an hour long cut. It's a common enough stipulation for documentaries partialy funded by broadcasters.

Kess73 · 11-02-2011 4:28pm

Iorras55 wrote: »

No actors there. This is real documentary footage. Why don't you see for yourself? You might learn how real communities work, squabbles and all! This footage only went to 2008. When the next one comes out you might see how a real community is stronger than mere squabbles. Ten years after this thing started and seven years after the gas was going to be flowing, they are not one bit further on in reality - no planning permission, no pipeline, no route, no consent, no gas. Don't hear -see for yourslef.

Maybe Lewbowski already knows how "real communities" work. Like many on this thread, I have an interest in seeing this film, but your tone to JB, intentionally or not, is coming across as very smug and patronising.

I can appreciate a person being very passionate about something, as you seem to be on this topic, and moreso if they have a local interest in the topic, but it is coming across in a negative manner somewhat, and it would be a shame to see that overshadow anyone's interest in seeing the film who has not seen it in the cinema or on tv yet.

ttoppcat · 13-02-2011 6:45pm

It won best doc at last nights IFTA'..deservedly so in my opinion. It really is a great film. Loved the directors speech too:)

Ruby_Woo · 13-03-2011 7:32pm

Anyone know if it's available to watch anywhere on the net? I missed the TG4 version and missed the screening at the Galway Film Festival..

Dying to watch it!

Anyone know if it will be released on DVD anytime soon?

Iorras55 · 15-03-2011 10:34am

Ruby_Woo wrote: »

Anyone know if it's available to watch anywhere on the net? I missed the TG4 version and missed the screening at the Galway Film Festival..

Dying to watch it!

Anyone know if it will be released on DVD anytime soon?

You might find it still being shown in Ireland although most screenings now seem to be foreign ones.

Link to current screenings: http://www.thepipethefilm.com/main-sect/

harr · 18-03-2011 3:28pm

The pipe will be screened in the riverbank arts centre in Newbridge co.kildare on Thursday the 12th may if any body is interested in going tickets can be got through there website.:)

df1985 · 14-06-2011 10:25pm

on more4 now.

feelpablo · 16-06-2011 12:02pm

For any one who missed this the last night on more 4 or who just hasnt seen it here ye go http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QKQf8hVNnA&feature=fvsr

In full on youtube and definately worth the watch

ricero · 16-06-2011 12:43pm

I found the whole film very funny seeing them cultchies going mad, it was gas :pac:. In all reality though this film is a propoganda film and is so when sided that I can't take it serouis.

duckysauce · 16-06-2011 5:39pm

ricero wrote: »

I found the whole film very funny seeing them cultchies going mad, it was gas :pac:. In all reality though this film is a propoganda film and is so when sided that I can't take it serouis.

what's a cultchies? if you mean a culchie if great to see an irish person fighting for their land , instead of rolling over like the government. I would say you would love a gas pipe line running past your house. Don't take your post "serouis"

Great film even if it was shown from one side , can't wait for shell's version now that would be a horror movie.

D.U.M.B · 16-06-2011 7:09pm

Great Documentary!

I'd recommend checking out Gasland
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1558250/

It shows the dangers of 'fracking' which is way of getting natural gas which could be coming to counties like Leitrim, Sligo, Roscommon, Cavan and Fermanagh and more

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0611/1224298736261.html

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2011/0611/1224298716471.html

gunne · 16-06-2011 11:19pm

This movie is completly biased.Why is there no mention of the decent hard working people employed by Shell

ricero · 17-06-2011 12:43am

duckysauce wrote: »

what's a cultchies? if you mean a culchie if great to see an irish person fighting for their land , instead of rolling over like the government. I would say you would love a gas pipe line running past your house. Don't take your post "serouis"

Great film even if it was shown from one side , can't wait for shell's version now that would be a horror movie.

Shell are a fantastic company by helping our economy Nd employing Irish people with jobs. Fair play to them

duckysauce · 17-06-2011 11:54pm

ricero wrote: »

Shell are a fantastic company by helping our economy Nd employing Irish people with jobs. Fair play to them

a couple of poxy local jobs(oh and they re surfaced the road) and the country loses a massive natural resource to a foreign multinational company , fair play my hole just another example of ireland getting done .

duckysauce · 17-06-2011 11:57pm

gunne wrote: »

This movie is completly biased.Why is there no mention of the decent hard working people employed by Shell

yeah how many are irish ? and how many of the local fishermen and local irish homes, jobs, will they displace through their greed, cop on we got screwed big time here .

PhiliousPhogg · 04-09-2011 12:40pm

I just saw this documentary and was looking forward to it because I've always been suspicious about how Shell have handled this pipeline project. However I found the film very frustrating because it focuses on emotion and is so short on details. It doesn't explain the basic facts of the project and events occur without any background given. Also there is no timeline. All of the attention is on the locals and Shell to Sea campaign and evidence of how Shell is acting illegaly or immorally is not presented clearly.

There is no background given to the arrest of the five locals, only that they are arrested for breach of a court order and held for (I think) 3 weeks.

One most interesting points I picked up was that Shell have made submissions and applications for stages of the project one by one and the locals haven't been shown the full end to end details of the project. However that point isn't elaborated on and these were the kind of details I was looking for but they were few and far between.

The most interesting person in the film for me was the German woman who took out the injunction against Shell carrying out studies on the commonly owned land. I thought a lot more could have been done with her but she only had a minor role.

Also the campaign goes to Brussels for a hearing but the film doesn't show what happened after the hearing and what the outcome was.

However it does capture the strain on the locals very well and there are some great scenes from the action group meetings.

I also have to say that the Gardaí come across as very professional in it. Any aggression (I would struggle to say violence) only comes after repeated warnings and they were mature enough when arresting people to lead them away without force or handcuffs when the protester didn't resist arrest. I don't think I saw one set of handcuffs used.

Mickeroo · 04-09-2011 1:00pm

PhiliousPhogg wrote: »

The most interesting person in the film for me was the German woman who took out the injunction against Shell carrying out studies on the commonly owned land. I thought a lot more could have been done with her but she only had a minor role.

Also the campaign goes to Brussels for a hearing but the film doesn't show what happened after the hearing and what the outcome was.

I agree with you there, it should have focused a lot more on those guys since they actualy seemed to have genuine well informed reasons for being against the pipe which we never really got to hear enough about. I guess it focused more on the likes of "the chief", harrington and the farer because they were more entertaining but unfortunatley they also seemed to only have unfounded hyperbolic reasons for opposing the pipe. There wasn't one of their worries expanded upon or backed up in the whole film.

It was an entertaining film and a good watch but I would hasten to call it a documentary at all as it gave a very narrow one sided view that it triesto hammer home with sob stories and manipulation rather than actual facts and evidence. Michael Moore would be proud.

endabob1 · 14-09-2011 11:47am

This is showing in Cape Town this weekend as part of the Tri-Continental film Festival so I did a search to find opinions on it and came upon this thread, really looking forward to seeing it now. Bit of nostalgia for me and maybe a little comparison in the corruption levels at home and here in SA, the oil companies have been drilling all the way along the west coast here with little benefit to most of the locals, it'll be an interesting watch.

markesmith · 14-09-2011 10:29pm

ricero wrote: »

I found the whole film very funny seeing them cultchies going mad, it was gas :pac:. In all reality though this film is a propoganda film and is so when sided that I can't take it serouis.

For a lad with 1,500-odd posts, you're quite active to be going on my ignore list.

endabob1 · 19-09-2011 3:19pm

PhiliousPhogg's take on this is pretty much spot on, although I thought the Gardai were heavy handed on occasion, but again you are only getting one side of the story and it's clear that there were a lot of scumbags there looking for trouble.

It was a good watch but very emotion based and didn't go into the legalities of the protest, I admired some of the locals for standing up for their way of life and you do get the impression that there were a lot of corners cut to allow shell the access and freedoms they had, but it was all implied rather than fully investigated. You come away thinking why didn't they investigate the legal arguments, unless there weren't any.....

Uncorruptable · 20-09-2011 2:30pm

Ruby_Woo wrote: »

Anyone know if it will be released on DVD anytime soon?

Yep, you can buy it here,

http://thepipe.myshopify.com/

Iorras55 wrote: »

You might find it still being shown in Ireland although most screenings now seem to be foreign ones.

Link to current screenings: http://www.thepipethefilm.com/main-sect/

I am organising a showing of the Film on the 08/10/2011 in mountmellick, Here is a the website i have set up to start the ball rolling,

http://mountmellickmovies.webs.com/

Tickets via paypal once you e-mail the e-mail provided on the site.
Looking to get more film shown there into the future just getting started on the first few.

PhiliousPhogg wrote: »

I also have to say that the Gardaí come across as very professional in it. Any aggression (I would struggle to say violence) only comes after repeated warnings and they were mature enough when arresting people to lead them away without force or handcuffs when the protester didn't resist arrest. I don't think I saw one set of handcuffs used.

Ah come on now, i think it has been well known that there has been some disgracful attacks by SOME of the police on the protesters, it will be disputed of course but there has been some nasty attacks.

The Pipe (Corrib Gas documentary) Megathread

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