Murder, Mayhem, and Plastic Storage Ware
Death of a Saleswoman is a Quirky Comedy

One of the beautiful things about independent filmmaking is the ability to explore ideas and characters that do not traditionally have a big voice in mainstream film. In the film Death of a Saleswoman, writer and director Donna Wheeler wanted to examine women as heroes, protagonists, living in modern times.

Death of a Saleswoman
Agatha Ruby (Melissa Papp, right) shows her sister the joys of plastic storage ware in Death of a Saleswoman. (Girl Next Door Productions, 2006)
Directed by: Donna Wheeler
Written by: Donna Wheeler
Starring: Brian Lally, Cynthia Mann, Justin Melvey, Katie Dawson, Mark McCracken, Melissa Papp, Michael Hughes, Ursula Burton

Rated Not Rated
Running time: 76 min.

FilmGuru's Rating : 7 out of 10.

The mystery in Death of a Saleswoman surrounds the brutal murder of Agatha Ruby (Melissa Papp), the leading regional salesperson for Rubber Tubber plastic storage ware. In the small town of Mametville, every one of the 200 residents knew Agatha and all of them are suspects.

Agatha narrates the story, giving it a comedic tone. The suspects are introduced with their names and relations to Agatha on small chalkboards. Although probably a result of budget restrictions, it's a funny effect.

As the police investigate the murder, the seemingly random act of violence becomes more and more intricate. Numerous people appear to have motives and are willing to point fingers at their neighbors to deflect blame.

Throughout the film, of course, is the running gag of Agatha's devotion to her career as a Rubber Tubber salesperson. It's not a hobby, she explains to her husband, it's her life. After her death, over $6,500 in plastic storage ware is discovered missing, so police assume she died protecting it.

The characters in Death of a Saleswoman are quirky and interesting. Papp does an excellent portrayal of a perky salesperson. Her love of plastic ware is almost psychotic, and I wondered if her dead body would be cremated and stored under a sealed-tight lid to lock in the freshness.

Like the 1996 film Fargo, this movie relies heavily on characters to sell the story of an unusual murder mystery. With a huge cast, it's easy to get a little lost. It's not always clear who is married to whom and what their relationship is to Agatha. Nevertheless, the good supporting cast makes the film fun to watch. Cynthia Mann, who plays Sally (Agatha's biggest rival), is wonderful. She seems to be teetering between the horror of death and a giddy delight in removing her competition. Mark McCracken, playing the reclusive Abel Gunk, had me laughing constantly. The characters and situations are so surreal at times that the film has a Twin Peaks feel to it. Fans of David Lynch will feel a certain familiarity with the odd ensemble cast and the strange FBI agent (Charlie Kranz), who literally sniffs out lies.

The writing in the film is punctuated with absurd dialogue that takes common cliches and alters them slightly. Phrases like "don't throw out the dishwater with the dead baby" and "chain gang lynching" help develop the sense that something in the town is slightly off kilter.

The film's fictional town of Mametville is a nod to David Mamet, whose works include Glengary Glen Ross and Wag the Dog. Wheeler noted in an e-mail interview that she was fascinated by Mamet and his view of male-to-male relationships.

"As a filmmaker," Wheeler wrote, "I'm personally passionate about the opposite --about women's stories, women's lives, about unstructuring and exploding stereotypes about women."

She wondered what the opposite of Mamet's world would be, and came up with a comedy murder mystery about plastic storage ware saleswomen who lived in a small town.

It's a funny notion, but also one that makes a powerful statement about the role of the modern woman. Women are not mere scenery, as Hollywood would often have us believe. There are good stories to be told that focus on women characters. Thankfully, there are writers and directors in the independent community who want to tell the stories.