Synopsis
All summer long, we follow volunteer collectors for the Malteser Relief Organization in the Austrian province of Mühldorf. The film highlights the competition between the collectors and the level of persistence these salespeople must display. Nowadays, door-to-door collection is more than just a little voluntary job on the side. A spokeswoman for the organization, which is affiliated with the Red Cross, explains that "Collecting door-to-door is a very effective way of fundraising." It requires no large investments, and people who sign up remain donors for seven to eight years on average. She calculates that a collector who gets a thousand signatures earns 80,000 to 100,000 euros for the organization in eight years. Filmmaker Stefan Ludwig follows a group of aspiring collectors led by the smooth-talking team leader, who shows them the ins and outs of the "trade." Fundraising may serve a charitable goal, but the collectors must have a tenacious and commercial attitude. They should not hesitate to be pushy with people who have just been awoken from a sound sleep and are now getting a camera shoved in their face. Ludwig shows us which members of the group are talented salespeople and which ones didn't make the grade.
