GOODBYE SOLO
US, 2008, 92 minutes, Colour.
Souleymane Sy Savane, Red West.
Directed by Ramin Bahrani.
A small film but most welcome.
In 2006, American born (of Iranian ancestry with some years of film study in Iran) Hamin Bahruni made another satisfying brief film, Man Push Cart, which dealt with the life of a Pakistani with a food cart in New York City. There was a depth of humanity in this story and in the characters.
For Goodbye, Solo we are in a completely different part of the US and with a different set of ethnic characters. Solo (short for Soulemayne) is a taxi driver in North Carolina's Winston- Salem. He hales from Senegal where he sends money to his extended family and to which he hopes to return. However, he has absorbed a lot of the American style and the US jargon. But, he has not absorbed the prevailing values. Solo is a good man, one could really declare him something of a secular saint. He is good-naturedly extrovert, cheerful and there is no trouble in his helping anyone who needs it (and who does not necessarily ask). His Latino partner is pregnant and he has a fine relationship with her young daughter.
However, the other central character is a 70 year old former biker, William (Red West) whom Solo befriends despite William's curtness and resistance. Gradually, William thaws a little and does a deal with Solo that in ten days' time, he is to drive him to Blowtop Mountain. It is clear to the audience and, soon, to Solo that he wants to end his life. Solo is persistently good and nice in his efforts to help William and they
do become friends. William also befriends the young girl. There are many ups and downs during the ten days, especially Solo being sent away by the expectant mother and staying in a motel with William. He studies for an exam and interview to be a flight attendant and William helps with quizzes. William also goes to a local cinema and chats with the cashier.
In many ways, nothing much happens. More importantly, a great deal happens in terms of genuine friendship, affection and an attempt to give some meaning to William's life.
The performances are just right. is completely engaging as Solo. Red West embodies this old-style biker. There is a lot of sentiment but not sentimentality. This is the kind of film that credibly and satisfyingly restores one's faith in human nature.
1.The quality of the film? Small, modest, small-budget, the cast? The impact? The work of the director? His American-Iranian? background?
2.The title, the focus on Solo, William and his deal, the dramatic focus of William’s death?
3.The locations in Winston- Salem, North Carolina and the migrant world? The African migrants, the Hispanics? The taxi drivers, motel managers, the dangerous neighbourhoods? Authentic atmosphere? The score?
4.The portrait of Solo, in himself, his age, a good man, extroverted, friendly and cheerful, driving the taxi, his relationship with his passengers, special clients? The moving back to Senegal when he had the money, sending the money to his family? His sense of the extended family? The other drivers, his flirting with the taxi manager? His ex-wife and the bar? His relationship with Queira? Their life together, Alex as his stepdaughter, at home in the house, his love for the family, his ambitions, the preparation for the flight attendant exam, the study, the quizzes with William? Queira’s pregnancy? Her moodiness, ousting him, his being by himself, her wanting him to fix the car, his easygoing style, not worried about the money? The time, playing pool, his friends? His adaptation to the US – and his vocabulary and expression?
5.The contrast with William, as a passenger, gruff and curt, silent, no intrusions on his private life? Going to the cinema, the explanation of the deal, the hundred dollars deposit, Solo and his studies, helping with the quiz? Playing pool, the growing friendship? At home with Solo, meeting Queira, her ousting him? The friendship with Alex, moving house, going to the motel, Alex fixing the curtains? Solo and his moving in? The boy at the cinema, the discussions about him, closing his bank account? Solo going through his goods, taking the tablets to the pharmacist and finding there was no life-threatening illness? His going through the things? Discovering the photo of the boy? The clash with William, William wanting another driver? Stipulating 8.00am, allowing Alex to go, the drive, the unemotional farewell? William in himself, his age, the past biker, lies about his family, his death?
6.Alex, her age, love for Solo, love for her mother? The phone, the photos on the mobile phone, sending them? Fixing the curtains? Friendship with William? The birthday, the travelling, the ice cream – and the delight at Blowing Mountain?
7.Her mother, the bonds, the fight with Solo, Solo going away, the pregnancy, the birth?
8.The themes of a new birth and the death of the old man?
9.The autumn, the trees, the mist, the mountain, the wind blowing the sticks back? Not blowing William back?
10.A film about goodness, Solo and his efforts to give life to William, but not controlling William’s life or death?
