Synopsis

To Be Alone is a film about a struggle for human connection. Based on a young man’s greedy search for answers, and a young woman’s solitary process of grief, this 2000-mile journey explores the spread of loneliness in our times. With their eyes set on Cape Finisterre, ‘the end of the land’, the pair unite in their isolation through the primal spirit of the horse.

After two years of preparation, Louis embarks on a pilgrimage across Europe from Siena (Italy) to Finisterra (Spain). With an Arab horse as his sole companion, he aims to conquer the Ligurian Alps. Traveling alone, he fails to realise that the biggest battle he will be faced with is the one between himself and his own ego. Two weeks later, he is joined by a young woman, Kiki, who has recently lost her sister to suicide. Blinded by deep grief, she seeks pure solitude, thinking it will bring her closer to her sister. Now accompanied with an individual in suffering, Louis’ privileged adventure appears nothing more than delusion. For the first time, he must confront the true reasons for his solitary undertaking. Step by step, both their worlds unravel through danger, responsibility, the unexpected generosity of strangers, and the timeless spirit of the horse. 110 days later, with no place further to travel, they both find what they weren’t looking for: A companion to be lost with.

To Be Alone transports its viewer to an old, primitive world where the sound of hooves determines the beat of life.

Meet The Characters

Louis Hall
Youthfully disillusioned by the lack of imagination in contemporary society, Louis (a 25 year-old, Scottish, aspiring actor) sets out on a 2000 mile horse-led journey, from Siena, Italy to Cape Finisterre, Spain. Beginning alone, Louis’ inspiration is one of restlessness. Unsure where the answers lie in the urban machinations of London, he is ultimately in search for a sense of connection. In the snow-ridden Ligurian Alps he is joined by a young woman on a search of her own. Kiki Ho, from the Netherlands, has recently lost her sister to suicide and sets out to join the route to process her grief. Now accompanied by an individual in suffering, Louis’ privileged adventure appears nothing more than delusion, and, for the first time, he must now confront the real reasons for his solitary undertaking. Step by step, his one-man world is unravelled.

Kiki Ho
After the tragic loss of her sister, Kiki (a 27 year-old, Dutch, beginning filmmaker) finds herself at a complete loss in her life. Grappling with intense powerlessness, blame, guilt and personal failure, she decides to set off on a 2500-km equine pilgrimage, desperately trying to make sense of the suicide of her sister: Grieving is a lonely process yet grief after suicide is certainly extra complicated. Struggling with the taboo around death and suicide, she longs for complete solitude to match the loneliness that is already within her. Blinded by grief, she assumes that isolation is the place that she can feel closest to her sister. Against all odds, Louis’ lust for life invokes in her an unexpected and unprecedented determinacy.

Sasha & Istia
Two young Arab horses that sometimes look so much alike that it is hard to tell them apart. These magical, bay-coloured creatures can be seen as the silent mirrors of the main characters of Two Alone. With their extraordinary physical strength juxtaposing their gentle nature, Sasha and Istia effortlessly reflect the inner workings of Louis and Kiki. The presence of these animals, the grounding impact they have, and the visibly strengthening of the bond between the four, carries this film beyond a navel-gazing story of two people but rather lifts the meaning of “connection” far beyond the humane.

Director's Statement

Growing up in a coastal town in Devon, England, nature profoundly influenced my upbringing. It inspired my journey into filmmaking, prompting me to create my first short film 8 years ago to reconnect my community with nature, and question why we ever left the natural world. Witnessing Louis's adventure in the UK sparked my imagination, inspiring me to join him on his next nomadic venture and craft a film to explore these themes further. I had no interest in creating a simple A to B record of the journey, but rather a raw, truthful study of such a journey, showcasing its imperfections, Louis’ struggles, loneliness and the beauty found within.

Kiki's arrival provided a rare chance to witness a complex social dynamic unfold, her search for solace in nature following her sister's tragic death coincided with the journey’s relationship with both nature and fundraising for Mental Health. The resulting film allowed me to delve beyond the tranquillity of nature, exploring two nuanced characters' desire for loneliness and their struggle and inevitable embracing of love. Ultimately, I want the viewers to appreciate the importance of human connections and finding contentment wherever life takes them.
‍George O'Reilly