I first discovered Flannery's by chance on a trip to Ireland in February 2017. I marvelled at the richly patterned carpet, the dog sleeping on the sofa in the private back room and the cozy group of regular guests. Ann, the owner, greeted me skeptically. I ordered a small Guinness, but soon I had a whole pint in front of me. The regulars invited me to sit down with them. When I took my seat at the bar again the next evening for the concert of the in-house blues band and, as Ann remarked, was the only woman to remain at the bar with the regulars until late, the ice was breaking.

I had traveled through Ireland with a vague film idea in mind, looking for a pub that is not just a place to drink, but a place that has an important social function in the daily lives of the people who frequent it. Where personal relationships between the people in front of and behind the counter are cultivated, resulting in a very special atmosphere. This atmosphere I wanted to capture in my film.

With Flannery's and its extraordinary owner, the passionate blues band and the close-knit regulars, I had found the place and the people with whom I wanted to realize my documentary project. Ann really cast a spell on me: Her resolute and humorous manner, her respectful handling of even unpleasant guests as well as her tireless energy and endurance made quite an impression on me. Little by little the trust between us grew in such a way that I also got to know her sensitive, fragile side. I observed how Ann overplayed personal difficulties and concealed insecurities – some of which were familiar to me – to be fully available to her guests. Thanks to her efforts, Flannery's is a place of comfort and coziness. The customers have become friends and life companions, which helps Ann in dealing with her own inner struggles.

I sensed that I’d have to do a lot of trust building to make the film happen. So I visited Flannery's repeatedly over the span of two years, spent many hours in the pub and gradually became a part of the close-knit community. I decided to shoot the film without a crew and do the camera work and the sound recordings myself in order to create an intimate atmosphere and to be close to the people and their pub life.

While I was shooting, some dramatic things happened. These events had a strong impact on Ann, her guests and the pub and also shaped the dramaturgy of the film. The way the guests reacted to the unexpected developments showed the special spirit (and social cohesion) of the people frequenting the pub. Flannery’s is the kind of place that has become increasingly rare, a place where people, rather than commercial interests, are the main focus.
Thabea Furrer

 

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