TIFF 08: Goodbye, Solo

For a second consecutive year, the Toronto Film Festival had the honor to present the latest character study offering from Ramin Bahrani. Saturday’s mid afternoon screening wasn’t the world premiere, since it played out in Venice a couple of days back and before Bahrani could take to the stage, the programmer in the World Contempo section had the surprise announcement that Goodbye, Solo won the FIPRESCI prize at Venice.

When Bahrani took to the stage he dedicated the picture to the memory of a close friend who recently lost her battle with cancer. She had worked in casting the secondary roles and in helping scout locations for the film. It was a sobering note that reminds us that sometimes there are those who don’t feel like taking that final exit, while others (as described in the narrative) want to make that decision unconditionally.

Knowing just the basic plot outline, I’ve been tracking the title since Chop Shop and had it in my top 5 must see items during my stay in Toronto. His third feature is his best so far, a quick glance over on greencine had forewarned me that the critics were digging the portrait, and Memento (the int. sales company) quickly sold the rights to a pair of territories and sure enough, the “un-buddy” drama is an understated masterwork from the indie filmmaker.

At times a touching portrait but void of sentimentality, the richly constructed characters that are made more complex when they are stuck in taxi cab surroundings. Though there are some funny moments in the film, a first for Bahrani, but this isn’t in the vein of say a Night on Earth, here the subject and issues that are examined are heavy without being heavy-handed in design.

During the Q&A, I was surprised to see that there are many people interested in this filmmaker’s work – and have his previous two pictures. The actors received one of those warm applauses where you sense that everyone got transfixed and easily attached to this onscreen duo. Bahrani fielded many questions as to the character’s motivations, desires and what ifs. Furthermore, there is some interesting back story about the two actors which I’m looking forward to divulging in my interview with Bahrani and full review, which should be up shortly after. 

Souleymane Sy Savane (left) and Red West