Drama
United States of America
Goodbye Solo is a 2008 drama film directed by Ramin Bahrani. The film follows Solo, a Senegalese taxi driver living in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, who picks up a fare, William, one day. William reveals to Solo that he plans to commit suicide in two weeks by jumping off of Blowing Rock, one of North Carolina's highest peaks.
Solo becomes increasingly concerned about William and decides to try to befriend him. He learns that William is a 70-year-old man who is estranged from his family and looking to end his life on his own terms. Despite William's initial reluctance, Solo continues to reach out to him, inviting him to dinners and even taking him to a baseball game.
As the day of William's planned suicide approaches, Solo becomes more desperate to convince him to change his mind. He invites William to his daughter’s birthday party and urges him to reconsider his decision. In the end, Solo manages to persuade William to seek help and gives him his phone number, offering to be there for him in the future.
Goodbye Solo was praised for its insightful, compassionate approach to the subject matter of suicide. It premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2008 and won several awards at other international film festivals.
