(Canada, 57 min.)
Dir. Hans Olson, Writ. Clark Banack
Programme: Canadian
Spectrum (World Premiere)
A humble countryman, Dale Menzak is a man of few words. The Auctioneer, appropriately enough, is
a quiet film itself. This NFB film directed by Hans Olson and written by Clark
Banack, however, says little, yet it manages to say a lot.
Being an auctioneer doesn’t pay all the bills, so Dale works
part time as an undertaker. He trades his rugged cowboy hat for a black tie,
and turns from working with old machines to broken down bodies. It’s a much
quieter job than the cattle rattle of auctioneering.
The tranquil Cinema Verité style of The Auctioneer offers a lovely, peaceful portrait of the prairies
and of times gone by. Beautiful cinematography by Mike McLaughlin captures the
billowing fields with an affectionate eye and the sparse soundtrack (there’s
little audio besides the direct sounds of life) recalls a soothing trip to the
cottage or an escape from the busy life of the city. The auctioneer’s
interactions with his fellow townsfolk—ordering “the usual” at a diner, for
one—show the kind of closeness and sense of community that’s dwindling away in
these busy times. One can’t help but view a scene in which a farmer tries to
explain to a friend how to work a wireless router as a hint of contemporary
technology’s intrusion on the good old ways.
The shots of these laid-back countryfolk and their serene
wheat fields might be too sedate for some viewers, so the pared-down
observational style might be like quiet country living for viewers: either you
love it or you don’t. If, however, one pays close attention to The Auctioneer, one sees that some
careful observation goes a long way. There’s no need for voiceover when a scene
of Dale’s auction of used goods is succeeded by a visit to the funeral home.
This rural country living looks to be a dying way of life, as more people move
to the city and fewer farmers make as strong a living as they did before. In
one of the few scenes where Dale converses his colleague, he mentions demurely that
he sold his cows for the low price of two dollars a pound. She replies with a Fargo-ly “yeah.” It’s a film of few
words.
The Auctioneer
deserves a courteous hat tip, though, for its respectful, unromantic look at an
aging culture through the eyes of this seasoned auctioneer. Paired with the
excellent short doc Packing up the Wagon:
The Last Days of the Wagon Wheel Lunch (which I can’t really say much about
since I reviewed it for POV and copying reviews isn’t cool), The Auctioneer presents a fine double
bill that lets viewers savour ways of living that are slowly becoming a thing
of the past. Find a good Greasy Spoon afterwards and discuss the films over clubhouse
sandwiches and diner coffee.
Rating: ★★★½ (out of ★★★★★)
The Auctioneer
screens:
Thursday, May 2 – 7:30 pm at TIFF Bell Lightbox
Saturday, May 4 – 3:30 pm at TIFF Bell Lightbox