Shelter in Solitude

Shelter in Solitude is a captivating story of death row inmate with just days to live and the impact he felt from a wannabe country western singer and a small community of people during COVID times.

Directed by Vibeke Muasya the movie stars the wonderful actors Siobhan Fallon Hogan, Robert Patrick, Peter Macon, Dan Castellaneta and Peter Hogan. I had the honor of seeing it at Kevin Smith's first film festival-- SModCastle Film Festival--in Atlantic Highlands New Jersey.

This fantastic, small-town love story about a tragic inmate in despair who finds an unusual friend with faith and a warm heart, is touching and enjoyable for all. Funny, compassionate, relatable, surprising and with a great cast, excellent music and perfect backdrop make this a Must-See Film!

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.

I enjoyed this tender tragicomedy which showcases veteran actress/comedienne Siobhan Fallon Hogan's many talents. Her hard luck character Val Fagan is a lonesome tavern keeper and former Ole Opry vedette looking for love in all the wrong places whose life is spiraling out of control as the pandemic hits. She is maligned and robbed, but finds purpose and redemption at the height of Covid when she finds herself working as a death row prison guard. Her relationship with her brother, the warden, portrayed by Robert Patrick, is rocky but touching, as they manage to join forces to provide a semblance of compassion, if not justice, to the prisoner, portrayed by Peter Macon on death row.

Loved this movie. A peek at life in a deep south small town at the start of the pandemic. The main character, down on her luck, finds a way of making lemonaid out of lemons after taking a job as a death row prison guard. She's open hearted and open minded from the get-go towards the death row inmate she is guarding. She develops a strong connection and a sense of responsibility to alleviate her prison's pain, to try and fix the unfixable for him. At times funny, hopeful, sad, emotional, conflicted, honest. You'll feel it all while getting to know this cast of characters in their hometown. Expect to spend a very enjoyable few hours!

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.