Goodbye Solo (2008)

Directed by: Ramin Bahrani
Starring: Souleymane Sy Savane

****

Optimism is contagious but like anything, one must be accepting of it. If any character has made me appreciate life, its the fun loving cabbie named Solo, played beautifully by Souleymane Sy Savane. There's not really a glaring reason for Solo's optimism but that is what makes it so real. Here is a person who loves his family despite the problems his marriage is having, appreciates his job because it allows him to provide for them but aspires to bigger and better things and believes that positive thinking is a key component to success. He is, essentially the opposite of William (Red West), whom he befriends after making plans to chauffer him to Blowing Rock on August 20th where William intends to kills himself.

There is a mysterious element to this movie that really works. This doesn't even include the mystery that unfolds at the end of the movie that is nothing short of brilliantly executed. Solo is outgoing and talkative, William is not. So Williams plans are only conveyed to us through Solo's interpretation. We believe what's going to happen as much as Solo does but the way we grow attached the these characters, we're left with the thought that maybe nothing bad is going to happen, afterall, we don't have an admission from William. All signs point to yes however. William sells his apartment, closes his bank account and seemingly cuts all ties he has in the world. All except for the one he regrettably makes with Solo.

Interestingly, there is a strong tie with the characters in this film, but for the sake of the story, I was never 100% convinced of what I wanted to happen. Without giving anything away, part of me felt the story would be to happy if William lived, but thought it could be too sad if he dies. Having both aspects of a movie work so well that I was pitted against myself like that is rare and effective and its a real credit to the mood created by director Ramin Bahrani. His previous critically acclaimed film Chop Shop is on my list of movies I really want to see, but my enjoyment of Goodbye Solo piques my interest even more.

Motives aside, I found William to be very relatable. He hired Solo to drive him somewhere and nothing more but Solo's good intentions conflict with William's desire to be left in peace. As personable as Solo is, there were times when I sided with William and wanted Solo to understand that sometimes people don't want a friend, they don't want company, they don't want to sleep on your couch, they just want to be brought to a motel like they asked.  William is an understanding person however, and despite his stubbornness, he does show signs of acceptance of Solo's friendship. When is is most open to it, we recognize the effect that Solo has on people.

This is not a one tracked story of a Senegalian cab driver who befriends an old white man. That Senegalian cab driver has a lot of layers. Cliche as it may be, Solo doesn't want to be a cab driver his whole life. He wants to become a flight attendent, something we learn he is very qualified for as he speaks a number of languages and studies hard. His support system is not very big however as with a baby on the way, his wife doesn't like the idea of Solo traveling, but that doesn't mean giving up his dreams. So with the reluctant help from his newest friend, Solo continues to study.

Solo is such a refreshing character that he brings light to even the darkest themes that this film presents. Lines of dialogue as simple as "You don't want to do that, tomorrow will be a better day..." ring so true out of Solo's mouth because we believe that he believes that is truth. That is the way he lives his life every moment. That even when he and his wife have problems large enough to put Solo into a motel for a night, he relishes the opportunity to get to know William better and to really focus on his studying. This would seem irresponsible to some people, but its also realistic.

Goodbye Solo continues my race to see as many 2009 movies as I can before the Oscars. (Technically, this is a 2008 release but if its on critics '09 lists, then its an '09 movie for me). Where last year's films endlessly disappointed me, Goodbye Solo adds to '09s very impressive resume filled with great movies and performances like that of Souleymane Sy Savane who may have single handedly influenced me to apply for flight attendant school... not really, but he was great.