California Solo (2012)

I am a big fan of independent films. I appreciate their honesty and the quality of the emotional journey. I am also a fan of Robert Carlyle. I've watched his work for many years, and have a great admiration for what he brings to film and television. After catching up on my Once Upon A Time on ABC, I wanted to explore more of "Bobby's" work. Netflix only has a few of his best works. California Solo is a newer one, and it was worth watching.

The story is about a former Scottish rocker living in Southern California has been threatened with deportation. Desperate to stay in the USA, he reconnects with his ex wife, and estranged teenage daughter. Late in the film, he begins to slowly rebuild his life. This film doesn't have the happiest of endings, but perhaps it was all for the best.

This film is brutally honest, beautifully shot, and Robert Carlyle always delivers. The best moment, for me, was at the end of the film. Carlyle's character is playing an acoustic guitar, with the green corn field as a backdrop. For a moment, he stops playing and the camera zooms into his face. The expression on his face is hard to describe, but we all know the look. It's the look when he realizes what's about to happen to him. It's the look when the reality of the circumstances have had time to sink in. Then it closes to black, before rolling the credits. It's a beautifully honest moment, and very moving. This film did not disappoint.

The film poster is quite misleading. The female lead wasn't as prominent as the photo implies.