Shelter in Solitude

Written by and starring Siobhan Fallon Hogan, Shelter in Solitude tells the story of a death row prisoner with 10 days left to live forming an unlikely bond with a washed up country-singer-turned-prison-guard.

This dramatic comedy makes light work of dark things. Set in a small town on the outskirts of Nashville during the early days of the pandemic, this poignant tale finds all of its characters grappling with different kinds of loneliness. As a man facing the death penalty when COVID struck, prisoner Jackson (Peter Macon) also had to endure solitary confinement, compounding his isolation. Val (Hogan) lives a far-from-perfect life, but wears her heart and her faith on her sleeve. After taking the prison guard job, she stumbles into an unconventional prison ministry of service and friendship with Jackson. Her authentic and ordinary kindness makes a meaningful impression on the prisoner/poet.

The story extends beyond the bounds of an unlikely friendship; it delves deep into themes of misfortune, injustice, and the discovery of hope even in the most dire circumstances. Amid all the small talk, silliness, and monotony, there is the suggestion of grace operating beneath the surface, and even of the hope that if we choose to lead with kindness and lean into connection, something divine – even if it is utterly ordinary – is possible.