Drive My Car

Name: Drive My Car
Genre: Drama
Released: November 24, 2021
Duration: 179 min
Rating: 91
Cast: Ann Fite, Dae-Young Jin, Hidetoshi Nishijima, Masaki Okada, Perry Dizon

2021

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 42 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 141 Ratings

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7.4

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7.4	Your Score
7.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 141 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Janus Film | Release Date: November 24, 2021 | Not Rated

Starring: Ann Fite, Dae-Young Jin, Hidetoshi Nishijima, Masaki Okada, Perry Dizon, Reika Kirishima, Satoko Abe, Sonia Yuan, Tôko Miura, Yoo-rim Park

Movie Facts:

Named best picture of 2021 by the New York Film Critics Circle and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association. More awards and nominations...
Winner of Best Screenplay at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival.

Summary: Two years after his wife’s unexpected death, Yusuke Kafuku (Hidetoshi Nishijima), a renowned stage actor and director, receives an offer to direct a production of Uncle Vanya at a theater festival in Hiroshima. There, he meets Misaki Watari (Toko Miura), a taciturn young woman assigned by the festival to chauffeur him in his beloved redTwo years after his wife’s unexpected death, Yusuke Kafuku (Hidetoshi Nishijima), a renowned stage actor and director, receives an offer to direct a production of Uncle Vanya at a theater festival in Hiroshima. There, he meets Misaki Watari (Toko Miura), a taciturn young woman assigned by the festival to chauffeur him in his beloved red Saab 900. As the production’s premiere approaches, tensions mount amongst the cast and crew, not least between Yusuke and Koji Takatsuki, a handsome TV star who shares an unwelcome connection to Yusuke’s late wife. Forced to confront painful truths raised from his past, Yusuke begins - with the help of his driver – to face the haunting mysteries his wife left behind. Adapted from Haruki Murakami’s short story. [Janus Films]
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Director: Ryûsuke Hamaguchi

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 179 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Christopher Machell

Nov 19, 2021

Drive My Car is not most films, its story told in minute, passing details that cannot help but grip the attention to the point that the emotional tension and catharsis feel so effortless that hours seem to pass in an instant. That very little happens in the way of narrative action speaks to how brilliantly Hamaguchi harnesses the emotions of his characters into compelling drama. Read full review

100

Michael Phillips

Dec 9, 2021

For a century and more, film directors have explored crosscurrents between art and life, and how one informs the other. Hamaguchi makes that exploration a fully humanized one. His actors, one and all, are so good, you’re simply grateful for their screen company. Read full review

100

NME Paul Bradshaw

Apr 1, 2022

Hamaguchi’s literary and densely layered drama moves slowly through its runtime, but stick with it and Drive My Car rewards patience like almost nothing else. Read full review

Guy Lodge

Jul 11, 2021

Hamaguchi’s filmmaking, always accomplished, reaches new heights of refinement and sensory richness here, principally via Shinomiya’s immaculate, opaline lensing. Read full review

IndieWire David Ehrlich

Jul 11, 2021

The result is a low-key but lingeringly resonant tale about a strange chapter in the life of a grieving theater director — an intimate stage whisper of a film in which every scene feels like a secret. Read full review

Tara Brady

Nov 22, 2021

The entire ensemble is remarkable. The drama is so engrossing, it knocks the jaunty Beatles song right out of the viewer’s head. Read full review

Movie Nation Roger Moore

Nov 23, 2021

It’s a movie of repressed characters living interior monologues not delivered, the cinema of droning along storytelling rebranded as “serene” or “patient.” That makes this festival darling one of those films you ponder and appreciate, almost at arm’s length. It’s that afraid of moving you. Read full review

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User Reviews

LuissDt

Apr 2, 2022

Drive my car is very slow but if you hold on to it honey it will be a beautiful and sentimental car ride.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

cocon

Dec 24, 2021

If you love Chekhov, this is a very beautiful and delicate tribute to his world and the creative process behind the staging of a play. All the actors are impeccable, the script fascinating.

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

JLuis_001

Dec 17, 2021

A profound film, but one that will really be too far away for impatient viewers.

This dense 3-hour film is based on a short story by the famous Japanese writer Haruki Murakami, and is directed by Ryûsuke Hamaguchi, who this year also delivered one of my favorite films of the year. I'mA profound film, but one that will really be too far away for impatient viewers.

This dense 3-hour film is based on a short story by the famous Japanese writer Haruki Murakami, and is directed by Ryûsuke Hamaguchi, who this year also delivered one of my favorite films of the year.
I'm talking about Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy.

The fact that the same director delivers two works that will be in my top 10 of the same year seems exceptional to me, but Drive My Car is also an excellent film that deserves the entire recognition.

Drive My Car is a film loaded with symbolism, and in my interpretation represents looking forward, even with the costs that this represents, and the baggage of the past.

The characters are explored in terms of the experiences that build them at the precise moments in which the story unfolds, especially as it relates to a series of events early in the narrative involving the main male character that are crucial to understanding his persona, but not to accepting where he is headed. I found this to be exceptional.

Drive My Car is a thoughtful, emotional and wise drama.
Its conclusion lends itself to various interpretations, but the most important thing for me is that it doesn't beat around the bush about a simple subject that is actually quite practical and of course, we all experience it.
I'm talking about life's lessons, and the memories and constant pain that we tend to run away from.
Because many times we are perfectly aware of it, but we do nothing to repair it, and this film understands perfectly well that it is by coming out and exposing ourselves, that will eventually bring about healing.… Expand

7 of 10 users found this helpful73

MargiV

Sep 10, 2022

Plane, pale, dry, boring, too long

It didn't hooked me, the story didn't add up, so many gaps, he didn't even confronted the guy after two years. I didn't get what the movie wanted to tell us. Leave karma do her job? Maybe. As for the nominations, imo not deserved, none of them.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

albertocastilla

Feb 19, 2022

Too long. It is the biggest problem of this poetic and exquisitely narrated film, where silences have as much prominence as words. The performances are wonderful and the film's metaphor of life's own journey is exciting and moving. However, it is by no means a round movie. In fact, it is notToo long. It is the biggest problem of this poetic and exquisitely narrated film, where silences have as much prominence as words. The performances are wonderful and the film's metaphor of life's own journey is exciting and moving. However, it is by no means a round movie. In fact, it is not a film for all audiences.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

everett

Mar 16, 2022

Like others, I really wanted to like this movie, and for a while I did. The set-up captured me (though I found one bedroom element ridiculous, something taken seriously that — come on! — verged on comedy). But the longer it played out, the less my interest held up. The devolving middle mightLike others, I really wanted to like this movie, and for a while I did. The set-up captured me (though I found one bedroom element ridiculous, something taken seriously that — come on! — verged on comedy). But the longer it played out, the less my interest held up. The devolving middle might have been worth the wait if the denouement had paid off. But it didn't, finally landing without a real payoff — nothing special, nothing to take away that was original or insightful or worth all that time. There's a repression verging on implausibility in the third act that made me wonder about what, exactly, a filmmaker's job is, and whether he or she owes some respect to an audience that invests three hours into a film. Is it fear of being seen as sentimental, or is it pretension, or simply a lack of insight? In any case, I'm bewildered by all the praise, the usual bandwagon. And sad to say it. Yet again.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

donaldbecker

Jan 15, 2022

absolute dismal ... literally could be used for torturing purposes. this is one of those cases when people close their eyes and repeat any praise just to fin into the crowd. well can not care less about those pretentious goons thus i do not hesitate to say : "IT SUCKS !"

2 of 6 users found this helpful24

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