“A moving exploration of the lingering challenges that come when trying to process an unexpected separation.”

It is often difficult to understand the impact someone has on our life until they have exited it. We tend to overlook the importance of certain connections, with even the most fleeting of relationships (whether romantic, platonic or just entirely casual) leaving an impression that can only be clear in the aftermath of some form of separation. This is what the protagonists of This Solitude find themselves having to endure as they make the conscious decision to end their relationship after having spent years as each other’s romantic companion and closest confidante. Soon after this, they both find themselves handling unexpectedly difficult issues. Leo’s father is slowly dying, which means that he has to momentarily give up on his dream of being an actor to care for an ailing parent. This is only made more difficult with the arrival of Gabriel, his estranged brother who has undergone a gender transition, which opens some long-dormant wounds between the siblings. Lorea, on the other hand, befriends an older woman incarcerated in a nearby prison. Their connection is quite clear, and with her friend’s release coming soon Lorea is excited to help her assimilate back into society, not realising that there is a limit to the kindness that one can reasonably provide before those around them begin to take advantage. Based on the play Fuga de cuerpos by María Velasco, and adapted by Javier Giner in his directorial debut, the film is a fascinating character study that looks at the trials and tribulations of a former couple who find themselves yearning to understand the confusing world that threatens to consume them without a moment’s warning.

The original play on which This Solitude is based was described by the author herself in only a few words: his perspective and her perspective, with nothing else being necessary in terms of understanding what this story is trying to communicate. This may seem reductive, but it is actually the inverse: it highlights just how remarkably compelling a completely straightforward, simple story can be when done well. In his adaptation, Giner makes a few changes (the setting moves from Madrid to the director’s native Bilbao, and with it he brings some cultural specificity that makes the film a fascinating exploration of Basque traditions), while maintaining the foundation of Velasco’s original text: a smart deconstruction of romantic comedy tropes through the perspective of two people in the aftermath of the dissolution of a long-term relationship. There’s something very disorienting about suddenly being forced to brave life on your own, especially after someone you imagined to be a lifelong companion decides to move on without you. Through this, the film can make a poignant commentary on some additional themes such as gender identity, familial tensions and rehabilitation, all of which become major parts of the story. They eventually form the basis for a moving exploration of the lingering challenges that come when trying to process an unexpected separation, and what it can teach one about recovering from difficult experiences without falling apart.

Giner does put a lot of work into making sure that This Solitude feels unique, but the reason it works well is primarily because of the radical simplicity of the premise, which is matched by the execution of its ideas. The film doesn’t try to overextend itself beyond its means, and instead of trying to be subversive it takes a more straightforward approach – we first witness the end of the relationship, and then the bulk of the film oscillates between the two central perspectives, before the final scene brings the two characters together again for a brief but memorable scene in which every difficult emotion momentarily disappears. We see two people temporarily connecting again and showing that even time and distance cannot remove the spark between them, though it may not lead to anything now that they’ve gone on their separate paths. Both Oriol Pla and Marina Salas are wonderful as the leads, handling some strong emotions with elegance and poise, and not being afraid to bare their souls by playing such challenging, complex characters. Giner draws out very good work from both of them, capturing a quietly devastating quality that may not seem impressive on the surface, but becomes much more effective once we take the rest of the story into account and see how every intricate choice made by these actors resonates deeply and profoundly. It’s much more than we would initially expect from such a simple premise, which is massively elevated by the commitment of the central duo in realising the core themes that guide the story.

This Solitude is a film that doesn’t demand attention, nor does it intend to force the viewer to embrace some of its thornier and more confrontational elements – it is very much a story about ordinary people weathering some of life’s inevitable but nonetheless uncomfortable storms. However, when we look beyond the obvious elements and instead start to pay attention to a few of the smaller and more subtle narrative and tonal cues, it becomes evident that Giner is doing something quite special here. The film does have imperfections – some of the emotions can be quite obvious and dense, and it does sometimes struggle to find the right balance between humour and melancholy (the original play was intended to be a more overt romantic comedy, which is something that the director doesn’t dismiss here, but rather slightly softens in order to make space for the more complex themes). It can create a slight imbalance, especially when the film is built around duelling perspectives between these two characters. However, the effort is clear, and the themes are very resonant, especially when it provides some meaningful commentary on acceptance and identity. This allows the film to be unexpectedly moving in ways that we may not predict at first glance. This Solitude has an abundance of heart, which is sometimes hidden behind denser emotional layers that can make it seem vaguely impenetrable; but as the film progresses and these elements are peeled away, the sincerity at the core reveals itself, making this a genuinely heartfelt glimpse into the lives of two people trying to make their way through a confusing but ultimately meaningful existence.