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Intense excitement and appreciation for the premiere of Motivate Pictures’ independent film “Finding Solace” led to the unexpected overflow of audience members into a second theater at the Galaxy Theatres, Saturday night, Aug. 9, in Austin. Columbus residents cherished their hometown being shown off as the story’s setting of New Liberty. The audience eagerly awarded the cast and crew with numerous rounds of applause both before and after the film’s showing. The following review does not contain spoilers.
To describe the movie briefly, “Finding Solace” follows the reconciliation of the Solace sisters, Simone and Lexi, while a murder- mystery plagues the town. The two plots moved towards one goal: finding solace, literally. The two sisters emotionally dance around their traumas, circling and closing in on their issues while dealing with the suicide of their father. Actresses Kelly Dealyn (Simone) and Marissa Falsone (Lexi) stole the show in each of their scenes.
The backgrounds of the sisters slowly came to light through flashbacks and confessions, but the murder mystery lacked the investigation and gradual discovery typical of the genre. Characters simply explained the answers of a crime scene and quickly eliminated alternative explanations. The murder mystery hides only the identity and motive of the killer through highly creative, cryptic carvings and unusual methods of murder. Despite the shared goal, the two plots felt entirely disconnected, like two movies playing at the same time with alternating scenes.
The plot between the sisters had no impact on the murder mystery plot and vice versa. The casts of each plot only shared one or two characters. The movie felt strongest when operating as a drama focused on the sisters rather than a murder mystery, though I see strong potential in the independence of both. A solo film for each plot would allow each to lean more into their respective genres, dive deeper into character development and provide more time for plot progression and buildup.
“Finding Solace” concluded with a powerful yet jarring political message advocating against systematic oppression and racism in America, specifically at the hands of police. Director and screenwriter Maurice Moore said in an interview that he and the movie do not encourage violent action in response to hate crimes and injustice, but that the sequence of events should prompt the audience to consider the consequences of prolonged conscious ignorance of systematic injustice. Movie dialogue names real Black victims of police brutality, including Breanna Taylor and Trayvon Martin, and the movie lists almost a dozen names in recognition before the credits.
The back-to-back twists throughout the scene followed by direct references to the real world broke my immersion and left me reeling. The explicit explanation forced the movie’s message and left no room for audience interpretation and personalization. I wonder if a less direct approach would be more impactful to an audience by challenging them to analyze the fictional plot and setting in relation to their nonfictional lives. Alternatively, the defined dialogue combats a dangerous misrepresentation of the movie.
The movie truly shined in its attention to and creative use of detail. My favorite detail was the stark removal of Blue Lives Matter memorabilia in the sheriff’s office at the end of the film. Blue Lives Matter décor is not uncommon in rural Texas (I see it quite frequently as car decals), so I initially chalked up the décor as typical. I only recognized the significance and revelatory nature of the material until I realized its absence.
Another notable small detail was when Lexi and Simone met at the café to speak. Simone arrived first and poured whiskey into her coffee. After Lexi arrived, she unknowingly echoed her sister by pouring alcohol into her coffee. The parallel actions of the sisters demonstrated their shared history and identity despite their years-long estrangement. The subtle props and behaviors throughout the movie enriched and hinted characters’ personalities and motivations.
The production created immersive atmospheres through a beautiful soundtrack, detailed shots, variant lighting and color grading, strong choice of filming location and perfect casting of extras. The lengthy, exhilarating soundtrack by composer Dave Wirth introduced and directed emotions, especially that of suspense, through scenes. Cinematographer Alex Rios’ detail shots played on the senses through texture and sound. Lighting, enhanced through color grading from colorist Rodrigo Bautista, set the mood. For example, the yellow rays of a morning sunrise peaking through curtains while a main character slowly sips on a glass of whiskey invoked a sense of reflection and renewal.
The studio’s choice to film in small towns generated a unique authenticity to the film, highlighting director Maurice Moore’s own childhood in North Carolina. The production team recruited Columbus locals, including the high school theater class and Burger King workers, to star as background characters and extras throughout the film. Despite the tight camera framing being focused on the named characters, the extras created a natural scene for the actors to engage with. The film captured the ambience of rural Texas more accurately than any major motion picture I’ve seen.
Overall, Motivate Pictures skillfully crafted an ambitious, emotional interplay between drama and crime that would benefit from independent exploration. The genuine appreciation for film and the movie’s supporters characterizes the studio as a passionate force for critical artwork.
