Men at Lunch (Seán Ó CualáinSeán Ó Cualái, 2012) USA/Ireland

Reviewed by Grace Williamson at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

(Sing to the tune of Down Under by Men At Work.)

 

Traveling in a full hungry boat
On a rough sea, no cows no goats
I met a Irish lad from the same city
He took me in and gave me pitty
And he said,

“Do you come from a pond down under?
Where men build towers that never plunder?
Can’t you hear, can’t you hear them thunder?
Look closely you might see awe and wonder.

Eatting bread next to a man from Shanaglish
He was five-foot-four and smelt like fish
Up on the beam, lunch was such a dream.
Lunch atop a Skyscraper,

who knew it would be in every newspaper?

And he said,

“I come from a pond down under
Where beer does flow and men chunder
two men were eventually identified,

therein lies our Irish pride.

This photo is a mystery but not enough to stay
for 80 minutes is too long makes for this play.
Homage to New York a century ago
a thank you and pride this is what we have to show
And he said,

“Do you come from a pond down under?
Where iron workers climb 80 floors and never plunder.

These men risked their lives to make a skyline

At the turn of the century making ten dollars, which was divine.
Living life in the sky,
this film makes you wonder why?
Cheesy lines like “nothing to fear but fear itself”
Half the audience left before hanging oneself.

No real answer to who these men were
No documentation, therefore we can never be sure.
Quite a story, maybe more for TV.
Not my favorite documentary.

 


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