Ramin Bahrani’s acclaimed Goodbye Solo on PBS June 1

By April MacIntyre May 18, 2010, 15:04 GMT

Courtesy of PBS

Ramin Bahrani’s acclaimed feature film "Goodbye Solo" is set to premiere on the PBS Series Independent Lens on Tuesday, June 1, 2010.

"Wonderful, moving and mysterious. Startlingly new and bracingly real. An almost perfect film." – The New York Times

"Original, profound and stirring. A masterwork. Ramin Bahrani is the new great American director.” – Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The Emmy and Peabody Award winning PBS series Independent Lens, hosted by Maggie Gyllenhaal, concludes its Fall 2009/Spring 2010 season with the broadcast premiere of Ramin Bahrani’s critically acclaimed Goodbye Solo, Independent Spirit Award nominee and winner of the International Critics Prize at the Venice Film Festival, on Tuesday, June 1, 2010 at 10PM (check local listings.)

Premise

The setting is Winston-Salem, North Carolina, as two men forge an improbable friendship that will change both of their lives forever.

Solo is a Senegalese cab driver working to provide a better life for his young family. William is a tough Southern good ol’ boy with a lifetime of regrets.

One man’s American dream is just beginning, while the other’s is quickly winding down. But despite their differences, both men soon realize they need each other more than either is willing to admit.

Goodbye Solo deftly explores the passing of a generation as well as the rapidly changing face of America.

About the Filmmakers

Ramin Bahrani (Writer/Director/Producer)

Born and raised in North Carolina, American writer/director Ramin Bahrani’s first feature film, Man Push Cart (2005) premiered at The Venice Film Festival, won over 10 international prizes, and was nominated for three Independent Spirit Awards (2007) including Best First Film. Chop Shop (2007), premiered at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival, and then screened at Toronto (2007) and Berlin (2008). Chop Shop won several prizes including the Acura "Someone to Watch" Independent Spirit Award (2008) for Bahrani.

In 2009 the film was nominated for two Independent Spirit Awards, including Best Director. In 2008 Bahrani premiered his third film, Goodbye Solo, as an official selection of the Venice Film Festival and won the FIPRESCI international critics prize for Best Film. The film was called a “near-masterpiece” by A.O. Scott of The New York Times and Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun Times hailed “Ramin Bahrani is the new great American director.”

The film was on countless top ten lists in 2009 and was nominated for a 2010 Spirit Award and a Gotham Award (2009). His latest film, a short subject titled Plastic Bag (2009), premiered as the opening night film of Corto Cortissimo in the Venice Film Festival where Bahrani was also on the jury for best first films. It later screened at Telluride, New York and SXSW Film Festivals. The film features the voice of legendary filmmaker Werner Herzog and an original score from Kjartan Sveinsson of Sigur Rós.

In early 2009 Bahrani was a recipient of the prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship and was also the subject of several international retrospectives including the MoMA in New York City, Harvard University, and the La Rochelle Film Festival in France. Roger Ebert listed Chop Shop on his best 10 of the decade list and proclaimed Bahrani as “the director of the decade.” Bahrani is professor of Directing at Columbia University’s graduate film program and is currently preparing his new film, a period Western.

The Cast

SOULÉYMANE SY SAVANÉ (Solo)

Born in the Ivory Coast to a Senegalese mother and a Mandingo father, Souléymane grew up in both Paris and West Africa‘s Abidjan.

In the mid-nineties Souléymane won an African modeling contest, and he soon became a regular face at Paris Fashion Week, working with such notables as Jean-Paul Gaultier, Dries Van Noten and Kenzo. In 2006, Souléymane was cast as a recurring character on the world‘s first African TV drama produced in the States, Yama Afrika. Souléymane was also a flight attendant for many years with Air Afrique. Goodbye Solo is his feature film acting debut; his performance earned him a 2009 Independent Spirit Award nomination of Best Male Lead.

RED WEST (William)

Born in 1936 in Memphis, Tennessee, Red West is known around the world as a close friend of Elvis Presley and a member of the fabled Memphis Mafia. He served as Presley’s bodyguard and constant companion throughout the many phases of Presley‘s career, from the humble beginnings through the tragic end.

While working with Presley, West became a movie stuntman and actor and appeared in 16 classic Elvis movies. Since the 60’s, West has appeared in supporting major roles for Francis Ford Coppola, Robert Altman and Oliver Stone and has appeared in many other films, from big budget studio fare such as Glory Road and Road House, to independent gems like Ira Sachs‘ Sundance award-winning Forty Shades of Blue. He has also appeared in recurring roles on numerous TV series including The Riches and Wild Wild West.

West is also an accomplished songwriter whose work has been recorded by the legendary singers Pat Boone, Ricky Nelson, Johnny Rivers, and many others. His two classics are Separate Ways and Why Can‘t Every Day be Like Christmas?, both of which were made into immortal recordings by Elvis Presley.

Goodbye Solo is West’s first leading role.