Shelter in Solitude

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.

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.

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.

Prepare to be enthralled by the rich tapestry of characters that populate Shelter in Solitude.

The filmmakers have meticulously developed a cast of individuals who are as flawed as they are endearing, making them feel incredibly authentic.

Literally, some of the most outstanding actors I have seen til this day.

Each one of the characters possess their own unique quirks, fears, and aspirations, resulting in a dynamic ensemble that adds depth and relatability to the narrative. The performances are outstanding, breathing life into these multidimensional characters and taking the film to new heights.

I will be back to see it again this weekend .

Absolutely stunning by all of you !