Le Vendeur

Le Vendeur ( The Salesman)

This was the concluding day for TIFF Bell Lightbox to show the 10 Best Canadian Films of the year. I wish I had seen more of them. I can only hope that you get the opportunity to see Le Vendeur. The director was in attendance. I was delighted to hear that the film has already played in many European countries. It was the first film from Quebec to play at the Sundance Festival. The film is absolutely wonderful in every way.
Le Vendeur is a car salesman. He is the best and has won awards for many years at selling cars. He has a system and likes to instruct the young salesmen on the art of being a good salesman. He is kind. He is a charming man. He adores his daughter and grandson. He takes his grandson to hockey and loves spending time with him.
The story unfolds in a small town in northern Quebec. It is winter and you feel the desolation and the cold. A large factory has closed and many of the town’s people are out of work. The small houses lead you to believe it is a working class community.
Tragedy strikes Le Vendeur and we watch with empathy as he struggles to control his emotions.
The cinematography is superb. The opening and closing shots are very powerful. The acting is outstanding. The director told the audience he likes to write simple stories that are complex underneath. He felt the film was about alienation and the winter storms were supposed to create the mood.
In some ways I disagree with the director. Le Vendeur was isolated in grief but surrounded by love from his fellow workers and people in the town. The director said the local expression was to show something more universal.
The audience was surprised to learn that during the filming there was no snow in the community. It was a warm winter with lots of rain. Snow had to be brought into the community and sifted over the roof tops.
I hope the film returns and many people get the opportunity to see this superb film.