Goodbye solo (15)
Ramin Bahrani (91 mins), starring Souleymane Sy Savane, Red West, Diana Franco Galindo
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Writer-director Ramin Bahrani's odd-couple drama brings optimism and resignation together in a fight to the death.
Solo (Souleymane Sy Savane), a Senegalese cab driver in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, is hired by weathered old geezer William (Red West) to drive him in a fortnight's time to Blowing Rock, a misty mountain peak. The old man intends his journey to be one-way. Solo has his own dreams of lift-off – he's studying to be a flight attendant – but he now commits himself to persuading William to think again, and involves him in the life of his adopted family. The film sets before us two wonderful physiognomies, Savane's being outwardly genial and jolly, but with a wariness in his eyes, Red West's a mask of hard living, contoured with melancholy (the actor was a one-time bodyguard of Elvis). It's touching in its way, though Bahrani's writing is not nearly as strong as his visual sense, and the denouement is perhaps too understated for its own good.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments