It’s a film about crane operators. And while for most people this may seem like an utterly boring topic, I was surprised to find that no, it’s actually quite fascinating and I discovered that I really wanted to hear and see more about these crane operators. Fourteen minutes just doesn’t seem sufficient for this topic, when all is said and done. Examining the sheer horrifying job of being a crane operator and the hum drum attitude the operators have toward it is rather interesting to see as they sit perched in their booths miles in the air looking down at cities and high rises with an air of content and satisfaction is breathtaking, and for folks with acrophobia, it will be a challenge not to have bit of cold sweats and hyperventilation.
Eva Weber examines one of the more unsung heroes of the work place, the folks who basically risk life and limb to help fashion structures with humongous machinery at enormous heights, and as trite as the intent of the documentary short may be, “City of Cranes” really discusses how these monstrous machines have become a huge part of the London city infrastructure and how we seem to know so little about the experience. In the outsider’s eyes, watching these men sit in small booths for hours on end high above skyscrapers may seem purely insane, but to them it’s just an honest day’s work where they’re able to collect their thoughts and master the skill of crane operation. Weber’s sweeping city shots, and enormous glimpses of the cranes from atop and down below are awfully daunting but also breathtaking, and make “City of Cranes” a bonafide film experience.
