The Callers

A good country auctioneer combines salesmanship and performance art, employing a pattern of sing-song rhythms, humor, and nonstop patter, while remaining alert to every potential customer's wink, nod, scratch of the ear, or flick of the finger, as he tries to steer bids towards the highest price. Filmmaker Susan Sfarra's The Callers takes the viewer inside the world of country auctions, focusing on the Pennsylvania Dutch region—one of the best places to see an auctioneer in action. For many auctioneers, this is a close-knit world—often a family business descended through several generations. Auctioneers here talk about how they got started, the special skills needed to "read" people, the process of separating trash from treasure, and the all-important ability to keep an auction moving swiftly while sustaining buyer interest. Buyers interviewed describe the addictive thrill of the hunt as they sort through "rusty gold," from old wheelbarrows to claw foot bathtubs. Bidding is a learned skill, although strategy can fall by the wayside during heated bidding wars between neighbors and competitors. Auctioneers describe newfangled tools (like computers) used for conducting auctions, while also lamenting the declining volume of available antiques and the shortened attention span of today's buyers. In addition to estate auctions, the film looks at livestock and produce auctions. In spite of the challenges, auctioneers say that the business gets "in the blood," and there's nothing else they would rather be doing. DVD extras include bonus scenes. Likely to appeal to fans of popular TV shows like Storage Wars and American Pickers, this is recommended. Aud: P. (S. Rees)