Shelter in Solitude

A great character study, Siobhan really knows her people! The story of two totally different people finding a connection really grabs your attention. Her character is irritating, laughable, relatable, and fun. Knowing that this is an independent film, made in her hometown with her high school friends as extras, makes it even more delicious. As I am from said home town, I enjoyed it more than ever! The movie was touching, funny, sad, and watchable. I never looked at my watch once to see how much longer! Grabs your attention and keeps it. I loved it, and you should see it. Now I need to write more characters to submit this, and these are them.

Siobhan Fallon Hogan has created a wonderful cast of believable characters and woven their stories together into a wrenching plot. None of them are entirely heroic yet, perhaps save for Kevin who is too immature to have character, they are each finally redeemable, though not in any facile way. From Peter Hogan's Chris to Siobhan's Valerie, for all their flaws, each offers a shining moment of simple and beautiful humanity, reminding us that even in the shadows of a darkening world and a desperately cruel situation, women and men are capable of connection and relationship across the most unlikely divides. In addition to Siobhan's own performance, Robert Patrick's Dwayne and Peter Macon's Jackson deserve special mention for revealing a deep and memorable humanity in the midst of very complex lives.

Comedy, crime, and drama--all beautifully weaved together to tell a tale of lock-down, incarceration, friendship, family, faith, and so much more.

It's really satisfying to begin seeing films that take place deep in the pandemic. And to see these characters surviving the very thing we've all just been through while also telling a story that goes beyond politics, beyond the expected, is just really enjoyable and exciting.

Siobhan Fallon Hogan and cast give fantastic, authentic performances that shouldn't be missed. Something like Dancer in the Dark meets Monster's Ball, this film is highly recommended for all.

I saw this film at a film festival and enjoyed it from start to finish. Fantastic film filled with great performances all around. Siobhan Fallon Hogan especially kills it, with great charm and charisma in ever scene she's in. She goes through a range of emotions and a solid character arc and it is consistently entertaining throughout. The supporting cast as well kills it. It's also a very timely film, set during the COVID-19 pandemic and as such is both very relatable and also will serve as a great time capsule for the future to show future moviegoers what life was like during this period of time. Overall, I highly recommend.

Discovered a sparkling gem of a movie after entering theater with no expectations.

Well written with en pointe acting. You really care about the characters. Surprising angles to the story.

Siobhan Fallon Hogan unfurls the colorful, quirky, broken, caring, "do it" with passion character, Val, with brilliant acting. Her heart is on her sleeve. Her determination is steel strong.

Dignity. Respect. Hope.

The giving, receiving & embodiment of these values thread through this story.

And....to what ends?

See this intelligent, thought provoking, smile motivating & tear inducing movie. Tell your friends to do the same.

Destined to be one of the top movies of 2023.

It certainly is one of my favorites.

Make it yours, too.