The Lonely Battle of Thomas Reid 
Despite pressure from the authorities, a gentle Irish farmer refuses to sell the property he inherited from his ancestors. The power of the American company trying to buy his land is great, but the main character’s resolve is even greater.
For years, the Irish farmer Thomas Reid has been locked in a grueling battle with his neighbour, US microchip manufacturer Intel. The multinational wants to expand and has its eye on Reid’s land. Eager to boost employment in the region, the Irish authorities are doing their utmost to force Reid into a sale. But the farmer has no intention of leaving his 300-year-old ancestral home, where he lives alone, surrounded by cows and chickens.
Director Feargal Ward follows the calm rhythm of farm life, which seems to stem from a different age. His house is crammed with hoarded junk and he appears to live in chaos. Nevertheless, this tenacious eccentric proves to be a formidable opponent of the system.
Q&A with producer Luke McManus and journalist & broadcaster Ruth Sanderson (BBC Northern Ireland) on Fri 30 Nov. Q&A will be hosted by Hugh Odling-Smee (Film Hub NI).
(This is a change to the Q&A advertised in our programme).
