Lost Soulz

By: MJ Asuncion

Music and artistry are at the heart of Katherine Propper’s feature-length directorial debut Lost Soulz. With Texas as its stage, the film plays out almost like an artist documentary covering an aspiring rapper’s journey to chase his dream. Making it in the music industry is already tough without the challenges of an unstable life.

Sol (Sauve Sidle) comes from a difficult life, but he is steadfast in his goal of becoming a rapper. He leaves behind the only home he knows and the family who took him in when he had nowhere to go in order to join a group he has only just met. After trouble finds Sol and his best friend Wesley (Siyanda Stillwell) at a house party where he just did an impromptu performance, Sol is rescued by attendee Nina (Krystall Poppin) as she recognizes his raw talent. After telling the police Sol is with the group, Nina offers him a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join the group she is currently managing as they travel through Texas to perform.

Sol wrestles with his decision, thinking about his best friend and his chosen family. Coming from constant struggle, he knows opportunities don’t come easily or often, so he quickly makes up his mind to go. As Sol climbs into their graffiti-ridden van with only his backpack, he pushes down the uncertainty and guilt and looks ahead to the future. Lost Soulz takes us front and center with Sol as he bonds with his new friends and escapes to the open road with endless possibility – where nothing else matters but the music.

Sauve Sidle is perfectly cast in the title role, being a music artist in real life and using his own experience to create his character. Sidle’s charisma jumps off the screen not only in his energetic performances but also in those quiet reflective moments. The casting is one of the reasons behind the film’s success as many of the stars are real musicians or actors with musical experience. Each performer exudes natural talent, creating a real authenticity to the film.

Katherine Propper is a writer-director born and raised in Los Angeles and currently living in Austin. Prior to her feature Lost Soulz she is known for short films Birds (2021) and Street Flame (2019). Lost Soulz is written and directed by Propper and, though most of the story is scripted, she was open to inspiration while on set. She allowed the cast to improvise and was able to catch times when the actors would freestyle on the spot. This spontaneity isn’t normally allowed on set, as it usually ends up with more work on the editing side, but these unplanned moments added to the film’s fluidity and the chemistry of the cast.

The energy and vibrancy of Lost Soulz create its own unique aesthetic. Audiences will be immersed in the world Propper has created, becoming fully invested in Sol’s journey of discovery. Propper does an excellent job with portraying tragedy and loss, allowing for it to occur organically within the story. Interwoven beautifully within the film are soulful tracks and hazy footage from an 8mm camera that contribute to the film’s intimacy and allure. Lost Soulz truly captures the essence of the creative soul and the importance of family, friendship and hope.