The Lonely Battle of Thomas Reid
Director: Feargal Ward
Release Date: Oct 19th
Feargal Ward’s highly arresting documentary tells the story of Thomas Reid, a farmer living in Leixlip, County Kildare. Reid fell victim to the government’s Industrial Development Authority when it was legally decreed that ownership of his farm must pass to them, despite Reid’s wishes, for the purpose of attracting foreign investment.
Ward’s work is a minimalist, moving portrait of Reid, the 50-something year old who lives and works alone.
For the duration of the film, the camera’s illuminating eye almost never strays from Thomas’s farmstead, and the effect produced speaks equally to Thomas’s intimacy with his land, his close relationship with his animals etc., and to his isolation from human society.
Words: Michael McDermott
Check out the interview we did with Director Feargal Ward ahead of the Audi Dublin International Film Festival (ADIFF) earlier this year: https://www.totallydublin.ie/film/film-features/adiff-up-close-and-personal/
