Salesman
Directed by Albert and David Maysles and Charlott Zwerin
1969/USA
IMDb link
Repeat viewing/Netflix rental
[box] The film is sort of the the beginning of a love affair between the filmmakers and the subjects. Some filmmakers make targets of the subjects they film; that’s not our way. – Albert Maysles[/box]
I’ve always loved a good documentary and this is one of the very best.
There is no narration nor interviews. The filmmakers follow a group of traveling salesmen as they peddle expensive Bibles to low-income Catholics. We see the tricks of the trade as well as the men relaxing on their off hours and attending sales meetings. Gradually, the focus centers on Paul, who is on a real losing streak.
Somehow the the Maysles team settled on an ideal subject for their “non-fiction” film. Being a door-to-door salesman of anything would be my idea of Hell on Earth. Selling the Bible takes a mixture of nerve, charisma, cunning, and downright fabrication. Catholic guilt is exploited liberally. You are almost guaranteed subjects with the gift of the gab and these four guys are real characters. As the focus shifts to Paul and gets nearer and nearer to the real person, the pathos raises to Death of a Salesman levels, at least for me.
The Criterion disc includes a number of extras, including an outstanding commentary by the filmmakers. They seem like people I would love to know and you can see why their subjects get so comfortable with the camera.
