At the center of Jon Jost’s Sure Fire is a portrait of a uniquely American character–the aggressive, authoritarian salesman.
The feature presents an unsparing look at an archetypal patriarch, a wheeler-dealer in Utah real estate.
Sure Fire evokes the dark underside of American life with the emotional resonance of a Eugene O’Neill play.
Jost’s minimalist technique creates a rich sense of place.
Shot entirely on location, with residents and only a few professionals, the film boasts an almost documentary authenticity.