Review of The Pipe

I was apprehensive before seeing this - i feared it may contain depictions of righteous indignation and not much else. Thankfully its much more rounded than that - it's a beautifully observed film about a community being torn apart from within and from outside influences, namely Shell and its attempts to direct a gas pipeline through a remote village in County Mayo. Some of the scenes are very funny and the film is pitched perfectly. This is more than mere propaganda - it's beautifully shot, the editing and construction flawless. It's probably not going to satisfy those who are strongly pro or anti the issue but the films strength is it focuses on the people most directly affected by the pipe itself - the villagers themselves.

If you want to watch an engaging documentary about the clash between big business and everyday folk then this is it. The director's description of the film says it all - 'it's like 'Local Hero' gone wrong.