With film distributors holding back anything worthwhile until the end of the World Cup my cinema visits have been rather infrequent as of late and this blog seems to have been neglected.

The other day however I caught up with Goodbye Solo, Ramin Bahrani’s 2008 film that I had recently been hearing a lot of buzz about. And the love that it’s been getting in internet-land is truly justified. Goodbye Solo is a stunning film.

It tells the story of an African taxi driver called Solo and and his client William, an old man who requests to be driven to the top of a mountain and left there. Suspecting William may commit suicide, Solo takes an interest in his life and they form an unlikely friendship.

The relationship that forms the centre of the film is as intriguing as it is affecting. The characters are both extremely likeable despite possessing flaws. This produces endearing moments that leave you with a smile and others where you become caught up in a thoughtful gaze. The reason this relationship works so well comes down to the two leads - the acting comes so naturally to both Souleymane Sy Savane (Solo) and Red West (William), that you can easily forget you’re watching fiction.

Bahrani’s direction too is flawless, the excellent script, co-written by Bahrani, is brought to life with grace and style. It is perfectly paced and every shot is expertly staged - the framing showing style but also restraint.

I won’t go into anymore details as Goodbye Solo is a film that needs to be experienced rather than analysed. All I can say is buy it, rent it or even pirate it if you have to - it’s a great example of a film getting things right.