On the surface, writer/director Ian Tripp’s Sincerely Saul shouldn’t be as awkwardly funny as it is. It’s about a horribly lonely man who vows to kill himself if he doesn’t lose his virginity by the time he turns 27. That’s a bleak premise, for sure. Yet, the movie is filled with all kinds of oddball characters and dark humor that lightens otherwise serious and resonant subject matter.
There have been countless articles lately about the loneliness epidemic among young men and how they’re falling behind. This has caused them to retreat to online worlds, worsening their sense of isolation. This is one of the reasons that Sincerely Saul resonates so much. Ryan Schafer‘s Saul really has very little going for him. He doesn’t have a career, and he lives with his overbearing and ill Grandma Diana (Mickey Faerch). Saul’s only interaction with women is online. He drools over cam girls, especially Becky Baby (Augie Duke). Most of Saul’s attempts to socialize with people his own age come across as painfully awkward. He feels more comfortable behind a computer screen.
The film opens with a shot of Saul attempting to hang himself. Obviously, he fails, but his thoughts of suicide don’t lessen as the movie goes on. Instead, they deepen with each of his bumbled attempts to form a real and meaningful connection. There’s even a funny scene where he joins a young adult male virgin group. Again, Tripp has a knack for earning laughs out of otherwise serious subject matter. It’s a credit to his script.
Schafer has a large task in carrying a lot of this film. Yet, there’s something strangely endearing about his performance. Saul is indeed a helpless schlub. That said, Schafer gives his character humanity that warrants empathy from the viewer, even if Saul doesn’t do enough to help himself and also screws over his grandmother by constantly stealing her money to pay cam girls. Yet, there’s something simply sad about the character. There’s even a moment where Bccky Baby promises to meet him and have sex with him, but instead, she drains the bank account, more specifically, Grandma Diana’s bank account. It’s another failed attempt for Saul to make a real connection, but on the other hand, he doesn’t pry himself away from the computer screen to meet women face to face.
Faerch is another highlight here. Her chain-smoking grandmother character is loud, brash, and harsh towards Saul. Yet, she lands some of the best jokes in the movie. She also shows rare moments of tenderness. There’s a scene late in the film where she pulls Saul out of his bedroom and makes him dance with her on New Year’s Eve. It’s one of the few moments in the film where he smiles.
There’s also a lot to be said about this film’s aesthetics, including its saturated black and white. A lot of the music contains old school video game sounds and even similar text. It gives the film a retro feel, even though it’s unclear when the film actually takes place. Though judging by the types of computers Saul uses, it looks like the 90s or early 2000s. Regardless, this is a visually captivating film.
Considering its subject matter, Sincerely Saul will make some viewers uncomfortable. Yet, there’s a lot of dark humor here, despite the grim premise. This film is also one of the most visually interesting movies I’ve seen all year. If you can deal with the dire subject matter, give Saul a chance. Despite its retro setting, it deals with incredibly timely themes, specifically young men swallowed by online worlds, worsening their sense of isolation.
