No. 32 Zamboni Man (2004) 21 of 100
Next up we have another Shannon Short which can be found on YouTube – link below! This one is listed as being from 2004, but I wonder if it was shot earlier in the actor’s career but was released later as he is credited as ‘Mike Shannon’ something we haven’t seen since his second credit in the previously reviewed ‘Chain Reaction’.
This short lasts 14 minutes but it is sweet and affecting and definitely worth your time.
Shannon plays Walt the titular Zamboni man. He’s the man that drives the small truck over the ice after a skating session to smooth it out. The film opens with a hectic session on the ice, followed by Walt smoothing it off. There is no dialogue or music, just a man doing his job. His role also includes clearing up trash and he’s shown to be an an anonymous presence as kids and adults alike fail to acknowledge him and run through the rubbish he’s trying to collect.
He then delivers one of his few lines in the film “Hey Tyler. The ice is ready for you" to a figure skater who fails to acknowledge his presence. Walt makes his way to the stand and sits behind the organ used for the musical accompaniment to ice hockey games.
The skater takes to the ice and Walt begins to play and slowly sings a song declaring his love and loneliness to the skater. Rose petals fall, but we know these are not real, a lot like in ‘American Beauty’. It seems that Walt’s affections for the skater are unrequited but as she leaves the ice and offers thanks we realise that she’s deaf and that Walt’s sentimental song has gone unheard. The film ends as Walt returns to the Zamboni and starts to clear up the impossible petals.
I really liked this short film and Shannon gives a great understated performance as the introverted Walt. He has barely a couple of lines but conveys a lot of emotion with his facial gestures and acting.
It is a sad tale of unrequited and unknown love but there is some hope left behind. Shannon clearly isn’t a great singer but his sad song comes from the heart and you can’t help but buy into his love from afar. The file notes the music comes from Jeff Tweedy of ‘Wilco’ – I thought that was a shop - but good job Jeff.
The film was a short made for The Midwest Film Festival and it was clearly low budget and done in a day. It is however nice in a sentimental kind of way and well worth the short time that it asks of you.
When is Shannon-On? - 01.09
Outcome? At the organ thinking of what might be
Film 3.5/5
Shannon Stars 4/5
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