Even before his latest Chop Shop has its North American premiere in Toronto Ramin Bahrani is already on to his next project. Bahrani, who gained recognition (and a FIPRESCI Prize) for 2005's Man Push Cart, has been working on his upcoming film Solo for This and That productions.
Solo, set to shoot in September in North Carolina, tells the story of a Senegalese cab driver (named Solo) and an irritable seventy-year-old man named William. The two form a unique friendship when when William offers Solo $1,000 to drive him to a nearby mountain, where he plans to jump to his death. Solo spends the twelve days leading up to their trip trying to convince William of an alternative to suicide.
So far it seems like This and That productions, the brainchild of Ted Hope and Anne Carey, will make a good home for Bahrani. Sounding like the proud parents of an award-winning student they had this to say about his work: “Ramin does things according to his own rules but informed by a full knowledge of cinematic history,” Hope said. Carey added, “He doesn't make navel-contemplating films or small-minded movies. He's making films about the world and not about himself.” Let's hope so.
