Goodbye Solo (2009)

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TRIVIA

This was one of the best critically received films at the 2008 Toronto Film Festival.

COMMUNITY RATING

SPECS

• Project Phase: Completed
• Release Date: 2009-03-27 - NY and/or LA
• Distributor(s): Roadside Attractions
• Film Genre(s): Drama, Dark Comedy
• Country: United States
• 

SYNOPSIS

Written by Bahrani and Bahareh Azimi, Souléymane, AKA Solo, (Souléymane Sy Savané), a Senegalese taxi driver in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, is hired by William (Red West), a stoic 70-year-old, to drive him in two weeks time, on October 20th, to Blowing Rock, the peak of a jagged mountain. Solo comes to understand William's plan, and makes one of his own—to befriend the stubborn 70-year-old and dissuade him from jumping before the two weeks are up. He brings William with him on taxi rides; they visit drug dealers and bars, play pool, and flirt with barmaids. Solo even introduces William to his 9-year-old stepdaughter, smart and independent Alex (Diana Franco Galindo) with whom William immediately forms a bond. He also meets Solo's overbearing Mexican wife Quiera (Carmen Leyva), who discourages Solo from pursuing his dream to become a flight attendant. Ultimately, Solo leaves Quiera and moves into William's motel room. Though William tries to keep Solo at arms length, Solo convinces him to act as his study partner for his flight attendant test. Just days before the 20th, Solo is convinced that he has succeeded in saving William.

Yet, William keeps a secret from his past to himself. Then, he closes his bank account and gives away the last of his possessions. Solo, crushed, realizes that William has not forgotten his death wish, and confronts him. William violently throws him out of their motel. No longer William's driver, Solo has lost everything. That's when Solo realizes that to truly be a selfless friend to William, he must do the opposite of what he had planned: he must be the one to take his friend to his death. And so, on October 20th, Solo drives William to the moutaintop. With them comes Alex, Solo's last hope to save William. There on Blowing Rock, high above the brilliant autumn colors, high above even the clouds, where the wind is powerful enough to blow a man up into the sky, the drama reaches its climax.

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