The Auction

Gaby Gagnon is a man of around sixty who lives on a farm raising lambs. His father has died, his brothers have no interest in the farm, his wife left him years ago, and his daughters, whom he adores and has always pampered, live in Montreal. One day, the older sister asks her dad to help her out financially. Gaby is forced to confront a critical decision in his life. The simple story is told linearly through several chapters. The director doesn’t judge his protagonists or their deeds, choosing instead to show the audience a story in which there are no clear cuts, and offering a number of ways in which to view the given situation. This visually impressive film keeps its dialogue to a minimum, yet practically every sentence has significance. In his physical presence and soulful countenance alone, actor Gabriel Arcand in the role of Gaby gets right inside the soul of a man experiencing a turning point in his life. This contemplative film from a talented French-Canadian director was selected for Critics’ Week at this year’s Cannes IFF (Karlovy Vary International Film Festival)