Pedro (Roberto Bontempo) is a salesman with a special product to sell. He's friendly, dedicated and knows everything about the product he's selling. His only problem
is to convince his clients (mostly women) in purchasing it since they all feel a little embarassed with such request, or are a little cautious about buying it. He succeeds
it graciously and the demands keep on coming over and over.
"O Vendedor" ("The Salesman") is a funny little story that has its charm due to a nostalgic factor of a time where certain things weren't all thoughout as it is today,
so one must keep that notion in mind when it comes to trying to understand why the product he has to sell can be viewed as a matter of embarassment or awkwardness - even for
him to sell - and there's a whole twist about why he sells what he sells. Viewed in the now, a more liberated and open time, the short loses its fun elements (though one has
to admit that it's really weird seeing that device being sold door to door and we wonder, in a time without technology, how on earth the man advertised it). I won't reveal
what it is but one can easily deduce it. And even if mentioned about it, it wouldn't be a spoiler. The actual spoiler is why he sells it and how he acquired all of that.
Bontempo is a very good actor in everything he does, specially dramatic works, but in this short he gets to be funny without doing much. He plays this quiet and respectful
salesman, who says exactly what needs to be said when it comes to selling his special product, way different than frantic salesman who push the product down your throat. You
immediately trust this simple man, who can be gracious enough to give a gift to a shy young woman who wasn't much sure about buying it. It's all good! 9/10.
