Drive My Car

Drive My Car (2021)

Talk about not judging a book by its cover. I was completely surprised to discover this wasn’t a story about a getaway driver (I blame Drive and Baby Driver). I was expecting a tense thriller and instead I got a three hour meditation.

Set in Hiroshima it’s the story of a recent widower (Hidetoshi Nishijima) who while directing his version of Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya is chauffeured by a stoic loner (Tôko Miura). And it is within their laboured interactions that he explores truths about his relationship with his late wife.

Beautifully shot it’s a therapeutic and calm watch and despite its long run time I lost myself in the serenity and intrigue; not least the sadistic yet delicious choice of him casting his wife’s young lover as the lead in Vanya. Captivating.

Amassing Oscar noms for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay Japanese director Ryusake Hamaguchi elegantly delivers an engrossing domestic drama about love and grief with care and compassion. But again, always shave off half an hour.

7 Reflective Thumbs Up 👍🏻