Fest Track On Sirk TV Film Review: THE MIDDLE MAN [Toronto International Film Festival 2021 - Virtual]
The progression of success or contentment depends on the environment within which one finds oneself. In "The Middle Man" [Special Presentations], the bearer of bad news in many respects falls to the character of Frank, a non-assuming man who previously worked in a rail station. His life, like many in the town is very matter-of-fact. They live a life of order where life still tends to be very messy. The staccato tone of the delivery and the point of view comes off quite stark but also unusually tender at times. The love story specifically that Frank finds himself involved in with Brenda, is quite pure despite some dark underpinnings. There is almost an ode to "Cinema Paradiso" in that the movie theater the girlfriend finds herself living above but never entering becomes a metaphor for the dark secrets she or her lover, past or present keep. The area of shooting, which looks to be Northern Ontario, takes on a mono-European and yet un-time specific structure. The notion of what friends and family mean in the texture of life and consequence seemingly snakes throughout the story which writer/director Bent Hamer does keep on a tight leash. Pal Sverre Hagen plays Frank with a bit of sadness in that he wants to do a good job (but like the similarly themed "Fargo") can't outpace what life has coming for him. Paul Gross plays the Sheriff with a gruffness and optimism that is both non committal, buddy like and isolating which is the perfect way to play it. People always seem put off by Frank, even friends who like him like Steve, whose trajectory is all but rosy. The eventual twist is an interesting perception by a would-be narrator but the intention might be in his mind to protect his sanity as its slips (perhaps) into oblivion. B
By Tim Wassberg
