Australian Premiere

THE SALESMAN (LE VENDEUR)

Mon 8th August | 8:30pm | Dendy Opera Quays

Dir: Sébastien Pilote, Canada, 2011, 107 min, French (English subs) | Cast: Gilbert Sicotte, Nathalie Cavezzali

This minimalist gem is a poignant meditation on the art of getting by in an unstable world.

In a small, recession-plagued town in Northern Quebec, the impending closure of the paper factory threatens the livelihood of the local car dealership. Ageing salesman Marcel Levesque however, excels at his job. Shrugging off retirement, he invests his energy in his work and spends his free time with his beloved daughter and grandson. But can these peaceful times stretch on indefinitely? And does being a good salesman equal being a good man?

This contemplative drama brings together the experience of gifted veteran actor Gilbert Sicotte and the remarkable stylistic confidence of debut filmmaker Sébastien Pilote. Steeped in realism, The Salesman is constructed in layers (like accumulating snow), subtly shifting from routine to heart-wrenching drama and back again.

“An astonishingly assured first feature, The Salesman elegantly applies restraint and precision to mount subtle, quotidian moments into an emotionally crushing story.” – Sundance Film Festival 2011