Exclusive Interview: Director Aaron Davidman opens up on his powerful new film 'American Solitaire'
- 17 hours ago
- 4 min read
Reel Perspectives
April 28, 2026
Oh, ain't it lonely when you're livin' with a gun. Well, you can't slow down and you can't turn around. And you can't trust anyone. - Van Morrison
American Solitaire is the new film by writer-director Aaron Davidman, a profoundly moving drama that examines what happens after the war ends, but the battle within has only just begun. In a cinematic landscape where stories about veterans often rely on familiar trauma beats, this remarkable film dares to go further, peeling back emotional layers with honesty, humanity, and grace. It explores the long and complicated road of healing, identity loss, and reintegration into everyday life.
During the interview, Davidman shared that he is collaborating with Picture Motion, a leading creative impact agency in the film and entertainment industry, known for promoting social change. He hopes to develop programming related to the film that fosters real and meaningful conversations about gun violence and mental health, ultimately aiming to advance reform in mental health care.
At the center of the film is Slinger, portrayed with quiet brilliance by Joshua Close. Rather than leaning into grand emotional displays, Close delivers something far more powerful: the haunting presence of a man trying to rediscover himself in a world that no longer feels recognizable after serving in Afghanistan. Every glance, pause, and hesitant step carries the weight of what Slinger has survived. It is a performance rooted in truth and one that lingers long after the credits roll.
Davidman's screenplay is rich with nuance, refusing easy answers in favor of emotional complexity. American Solitaire understands that returning home is not a triumphant ending, it is the beginning of another kind of war. Slinger struggles to reconnect with his son and fellow veteran Auggie, played with sincerity by Gilbert Ouwor, whose own emotional arc is heartbreaking. Slinger's attempts to guide his young protege ultimately reflect a society wrestling with masculinity, violence, and disconnection.
Writer-director Aaron Davidman dares to go far beyond the expected. Instead of sensationalizing trauma, the film sits with it. It examines the quiet moments, the discomfort of returning home, the struggle to reconnect with family, and the feeling of being physically present yet emotionally displaced. These truths are often overlooked in films, yet American Solitaire places them front and center with compassion and authenticity.
Davidman understands that PTSD is not just explosive moments of crisis, it can also be silence, confusion, guilt, loneliness, and the exhausting search for normalcy. That emotional intelligence is what separates this film from so many others. Davidman shared that he initially did not set out to write a film about veterans and reintegration, but was looking to write a film to try to better understand gun violence in America, a highly polarizing issue within American culture. Ultimately, the esteemed director wanted to shed light on those affected by gun violence and have a different kind of conversation after meeting a veteran in Tennessee. Impressed by his command of the topic, his understanding of the issue, and the subtlety of his perspective, politics, training, and experience, Davidman had found his calling.
In addition to Slinger, one of the film's most compelling and emotionally relatable characters is Gilbert Owuor's Auggie who represents another side of the veteran experience - someone who is still caught between duty, loyalty, and the personal cost of continuing to serve. While Slinger wrestles with returning home, Auggie embodies the pressure to stay in the cycle, carrying the weight of responsibility. Beneath his strength is a man quietly managing fear, exhaustion, and the emotional burden of always having to be strong for others.
Very few films highlight African American men serving our country, and Ouwor delivers one of the film's most defining moments, which addresses issues of race and masculinity. Auggie is not merely a stereotype, but rather, he reflects the sacrifices soldiers are often expected to make long after the public has moved on.
In an era where war stories often focus on combat spectacle or simplistic heroism, American Solitaire reminds audiences that the hardest battles are sometimes fought long after the uniform comes off. Healing is never linear. It is a powerful, deeply human portrayal that feels both timely and necessary.
The film is especially powerful in the way it addresses gun culture and youth vulnerability. Davidman trusts the audience to sit with the discomfort. Through Slinger's emotional scars, the film contrasts responsibility and discipline with reckless bravado.
Davidman has an excellent understanding of the struggles soldiers face when seeking help. Those challenges are even more compounded for Black soldiers due to racial factors, and the knowledge that men who admit to struggling with mental issues can be decommissioned.
What elevates American Solitaire the most is its empathy. The film does not sensationalize pain but honors it. Approximately 130–132 people are killed with guns each day and approximately 46,000 to 48,000 Americans die from gun related injuries every year. The film serves as a conversation starter, a character study, and a quietly devastating reflection on survival. With fantastic performances, intelligent writing, and accurate direction, Aaron Davidman has crafted one of the most affecting independent dramas in recent memory.
American Solitaire is now playing in limited theatrical release. Check your local listings.
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