Shelter in Solitude

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.

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.

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.

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.