Marcel Lévesque has been the Salesmen on the Month for
the past 16 years in a small car dealership in a backwater town in Quebec where
it never ever seems to stop snowing. Marcel
is past retirement age but whilst he is still fit and anxious to keep working, the town that was totally dependent on a paper mill that is closing, is dying.
the past 16 years in a small car dealership in a backwater town in Quebec where
it never ever seems to stop snowing. Marcel
is past retirement age but whilst he is still fit and anxious to keep working, the town that was totally dependent on a paper mill that is closing, is dying.
Marcel a widower, lives for his job: his house is
literally right next-door to the Garage. And the love of his life is his grown
up daughter Maryse and his young grandson. Together they constitute his whole
reason for being, and despite the prospect of the town’s impending doom, he’s
very happy and content with his lot.
literally right next-door to the Garage. And the love of his life is his grown
up daughter Maryse and his young grandson. Together they constitute his whole
reason for being, and despite the prospect of the town’s impending doom, he’s
very happy and content with his lot.
In this gentlest of stories, the slow moving plot
chugs along building up a picture of Marcel’s somewhat ordinary life. A
well-liked genial man who as a master of his craft, knows exactly when it’s ok
to tell a fib (or two) when closing a sale. There almost seems some redemption in
the fact that he sells an unemployed local man a fancy new truck they both know
he cannot really afford and when he tries to return it, Marcel is charm itself,
but accepts that he cannot actually do anything concrete to help the poor
struggling guy.
chugs along building up a picture of Marcel’s somewhat ordinary life. A
well-liked genial man who as a master of his craft, knows exactly when it’s ok
to tell a fib (or two) when closing a sale. There almost seems some redemption in
the fact that he sells an unemployed local man a fancy new truck they both know
he cannot really afford and when he tries to return it, Marcel is charm itself,
but accepts that he cannot actually do anything concrete to help the poor
struggling guy.
Then one day tragedy strikes ……. one had been waiting
for the pace to step up, but this was not the twist that I had expected. It makes Marcel question everything about
himself and his life as he realizes that he may soon lose everything.
for the pace to step up, but this was not the twist that I had expected. It makes Marcel question everything about
himself and his life as he realizes that he may soon lose everything.
This extraordinary debut feature film from
writer/director Sebastien Pilote really crept upon you with its slow
sure-footed story line that developed into a heart-breaking emotional
story. A great deal of the credit is due
to actor Gilbert Sicotte who’s understated and utterly convincing performance
as Marcel set the perfect mood for the piece.
writer/director Sebastien Pilote really crept upon you with its slow
sure-footed story line that developed into a heart-breaking emotional
story. A great deal of the credit is due
to actor Gilbert Sicotte who’s understated and utterly convincing performance
as Marcel set the perfect mood for the piece.
I saw it as the final film at this years Miami International Film Festival and it was the perfect thoughtful note to end on even though it was a tad incongruous sitting in shorts and t shirt watching blizzard after blizzard cover the car lot. I’m going to put it on my watch list to see it again when it gets a theatrical release, and also make a mental note, never ever to think about a vacation in Quebec!
★★★★★★★★
