Goodbye Solo - B

On DVD

In Winstom-Salem, William, a depressed man (Red West) hires Solo, a taxi driver (Souleymane Sy Savane), to take him to the movies regularly. He has even bigger plans on a specific date later in the month when he will pay one thousand dollars for transportation - no questions asked. Solo is OK with the money, but eventually begins to care about William and intervene in his life. Meanwhile, Solo is struggling to keep his pregnant wife happy. What starts as a low-budget, adequately acted and written film about unlikely friends eventually finds greatness in the last few scenes . . .

Ramin Bahrani is of Iranian descent, but was born in North Carolina. He's been hailed as the next great American director by no less than Roger Ebert, so needless to say, expectations were fairly high. I'm not sure he's much different than any other new talent out there - certainly not the sudden impact of a Tarantino or the Andersons (with Reservoir Dogs, Bottle Rocket, and Hard Eight). But there's a subtle beauty to this simple story, honestly told. It feels like a European or Middle Eastern art film, more dependent on the stuff under the surface and held back than an American one filled with characters that talk a lot but don't say anything. Here, characters communicate with their eyes better than their words.If you're patient and get through the meandering early parts, the ending will sneak up on you. It will probably have a bigger impact if you've never been on the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway or to Blowing Rock. The claustrophobic taxi cabs and crappy apartments that fill most of the film give way to one of the most beautiful locations in America. The outdoor beauty perfectly symbolizes William's catharsis and Solo's acceptance and peace. Bahrani definitely captures what it feels like in the Blue Ridge mountains both in the visuals and sound design (wind). The last shot of the film is the most memorable segment of the highway. While the actors eventually drew me in, I can't really say I wan to sit through the first 75 minutes again. I will be checking out the last 15 when it hits cable. B