Souléymane Sy Savané’s debut in the big bright world of entertainment is with his new film, Goodbye Solo that premiered recently at both the Venice and Toronto Film Festivals.
Goodbye Solo tells the story of Solo, a kindhearted and friendly 34-year-old Senegalese taxi driver in North Carolina, who is hired by William, a tough 70-year-old white southerner, to drive him in two weeks time to a mountaintop from which William plans to jump to his death. But Solo decides to charm his way into William’s life by becoming his driver, and this odd couple begin an unexpected friendship as Solo hopes to change the old man’s mind before the two weeks are up.
Watch a clip from the movie here
Newcomer Souléymane (Solo) Sy Savané was born in the Ivory Coast to a Woloff mother and a Mandingo father. Souléymane’s early desire to travel lead him to live in Paris, and later on, to take a job as a flight attendant with a Pan African airline. Eventually, he landed in New York where he lived for 7 years. It was while in Gotham that he decided to study acting and would book the lead role in Goodbye Solo, his first feature.
Reviews from the festivals are in and Souléymane’s portrayal of Solo is connecting with viewers in a personal way.
Savané, who is a new screen presence to me, invests so much humanity and charisma into his character that he is a delight to watch and is the magnetic core of this astonishingly well-acted indie. Sandy Mandelberger, Toronto FF Dailies Editor
What gives it distinction, beyond Savané’s infectious personality, is the continued particularity of Bahrani’s work: In his last three films alone, he’s introduced us to a Pakistani street coffee vendor (Man Push Cart), a Latino orphan working in a black-market body shop (Chop Shop), and now a Senegalese cabbie. Scott Tobias, A.V. Club
As Solo, Savané shows us shadow, light, love and manhood with a natural charisma that fills the screen.” Jane Schoettle, Toronto FF
Goodbye Solo won the prestigious FIPRESCI International Critics Prize at the Venice Film Festival.
Congratulations Mr. Sy Savane! You are well on your way.
