GOODBYE SOLO

Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Solo, a taxi driver from Senegal, is a man of infectious optimism; he works for a better life for his young family. William, a taciturn Southerner in his seventies with a life full of missed opportunities behind him, gets into his cab and books a ride two weeks from now: to Blowing Rock, the summit of a rugged mountain. Solo comes to understand that William does not intend to return from there. So he decides to talk the old man out of it – by becoming his friend. “Goodbye Solo” (USA 2008) by Ramin Bahrani tells the story of this unlikely friendship on the lonely streets of a Southern town.

Bahrani, who grew up in Winston-Salem himself, cast Souléymane Sy Savané in the lead role. The film premiered in 2008 in Venice, where it won the FIPRESCI Prize of the international film critics; its North American premiere followed in Toronto. “Goodbye Solo” was shown at Around the World in 14 Films in Berlin in 2009.

Shown at the 2009 edition of Around the World in 14 Films.

All films 2009 · Film Archive