Men at Lunch (2013)

Amidst the heart of the Great Depression in 1932, New York City undergoes a transformative urban expansion, fueled by a surge of Italian, Irish, and Jewish immigrants. In this bustling metropolis, Men at Lunch, directed by Seán Ó Cualáin, unveils the tale behind the iconic photograph "Lunch atop a Skyscraper." This photograph, capturing eleven steelworkers nonchalantly enjoying their lunch break on a steel girder, their boots suspended 850 feet above the buzzing streets of Manhattan, with the mist-veiled skyline and Central Park sprawling in the backdrop, encapsulates a moment of daring serenity in the gripping race to the sky. For eight decades, the true identities of these men and the photographer who immortalized them remained shrouded in mystery, their personal narratives eclipsed by the image's overwhelming fame. Yet, as the dawn of the 21st century emerges, the photograph starts to unravel its long-kept secrets. Men at Lunch is a compelling exploration and tribute to an enduring American symbol, the audacious pursuit of architectural innovation, and the brave immigrant workers who sculpted the skyline of New York. Part detective story and part homage, this film weaves a captivating narrative that is as breathtaking as the photograph it dissects.

Men at Lunch is a documentary movie featuring Fionnula Flanagan and directed by Seán Ó Cualáin.

Men at Lunch is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Kanopy and it's also available on GuideDoc.