Drive My Car Explained (Part 2)

[@lucasblue20]

Part 2 is here! I would love to hear and discuss your thoughts and ideas around the film! Let me know below, and thank you for watching!!

[@ozymandiasnullifidian5590]

I can't say anything about the film because I have seen only your analysis, but I like what I hear, obviously you are good at film analysis. If I may give one suggestion, an idea, I sure would like to see your video about "The Name of the Rose", that film based on a novel by Umberto Ecco, he wrote three (or maybe four?) novels and that one is filmed and has special meaning for me because the action of the film revolves around the second book of Aristotle's poetics, "About the Comedy" that is lost, we only know one line on that book. It is an old film, but I think that it is an important and intelligent film. In any case, very good video, I am impressed.

[@lucasblue20]

@Ozymandias Gidon Nullifidian thank you so much for your kind words, I'm so happy you enjoyed both parts! I looked up "The Name of the Rose" and it looks like a perfect movie for an analysis. I've added the film to my polls list. Thank you so much for watching!!

[@ozymandiasnullifidian5590]

@@lucasblue20 No problem, it is my pleasure, as I said I am a big cinephile and I search for good channels, not just those "recap" channels that are essentially telling the story and are analyzing nothing. I don't have my own videos, but I have many in my channel under films, you know film1, film 2...because there are too many. The nest, I mean channels dedicated to film analysis are usually in film 5. Feel free to check anything. You have great potential and I bet you will have a big number of subscribers soon.

[@MulvDulv]

Your voice is so melodic and rhytmical. This makes your videos extraordinarily satisfying to watch. It's like being read to a poem

[@lucasblue20]

Haha wow, thank you so much! I actually do try to make sentences flow from one to the next when I record, so I'm really glad to hear from you that it contributes to the overall enjoyment of the video. This really means a lot, thank you!!

[@Graciousgates]

Beautiful conclusion. I almost wish this analysis was longer. It’s given me a new love for the movie. Will rewatch it soon! Cheers bro

[@lucasblue20]

Thank you!! I'm so glad you could find new appreciation for the movie, and yeah you'll likely pick up even more the second time around. I'm so happy you enjoyed, thank you so much for watching!!

[@santiagoguatibonza6146]

an important detail that u missed is that in the final scene when misaki takes off her mask the scar is gone. this just adds further into the idea that she’s moved on.

[@lucasblue20]

Yes, that’s brilliant observation!

[@davidsheriff9274]

Yes, and also the fact that she got a dog. We knew she liked dogs when she was playing with the dog at dinner at the Korean couples house. So she was able to take the first steps in opening herself up to the possibility of getting close to others, and if she wasn't quite ready for humans,a dog is a good place to start. She had her hair done and she smiled for the first time in the movie and we were finally able to see how beautiful and vibrant she could be.

[@davidancona2170]

@@davidsheriff9274 It also seems she moved to Korea and she speaks Korean at least at a level to have a basic conversation with the supermarket cashier. What interpretation do you give to this scene?

[@davidsheriff9274]

@@davidancona2170 Do you remember when Watari and Kafuku were at the garbage disposal plant? She tells him that after her mother died, she wanted to go west, and her car broke down in Hiroshima, so she stayed and started working as a garbage truck driver. Since Korea is west of Japan, she took her new car, and continued her journey west, and decided to settle in Korea.

[@davidancona2170]

@@davidsheriff9274 It makes sense: a fresh start in a new country

[@PunksInVegas]

There's so much I could say about this film. Your analysis was clear-eyed and I enjoyed how your framed it. I cried so much with the final scene as, to circle the broad theme: the specificity of the moment where we allow ourselves that true vulnerability comes from how we let ourselves find the ability to let go and find closure. It's fitting that Lee Yoon-a (Park Yoo-rim who was equally incredible) gives that monologue. Though neither understand each other fully, the play and the roles build a bridge between them, I believe that Yusuke's tears transcended that moment, as we have Lee Yoon-a who gave up so much to be with her husband, and perhaps argubably, is the mirror to Oto/Yusuke that he needed. He cannot see nor understand her sinage but knows the words his wife spoke, as if Lee Yoon-a, like Misaki becomes the avatar he needed in that moment to have those final closure - he couldn't speak back, because he didn't want to break the bonds with his wife. Equally, he doesn't know Korean sign language, yet the beauty of it, transcends all that needs to be said. There's love and a bond that they build in each role - whatever loneliess either feel, they become free to move forward, her husband though regretted lying to Yusuke about the audition recognised her need for something else and unlike Yuskuke/Oto they learned to communicate without blindspots. It didn't matter in the moment because all that needed to be said was the ability to be open and forge bonds in different ways.

[@lucasblue20]

This is so well thought out and expressed! I love how you highlighted the parallels between the final performance and Yusuke's relationship with Oto, they are so much like avatars as you've said (Misaki and Lee Yoon-A). Forging new bonds is everything for them to move forward. I loved reading your input, your ideas are so fresh. Thank you so much for this and for watching!!

[@misterkay58]

Why isn't oto cheating on her husband a big deal?

[@ryanshepard1340]

I LOVE your videos and the way you outline the points & themes, and then tackle them. Very sermon like. I don’t know if anyone else on KZbin is laying out this type of deep, introspective deconstruction of movies the way you are, and it’s awesome. As to your earlier video about doing new types of videos, I’d watch anything you do but please DON’T stop doing explained videos. For film lovers and nerds, these are absolute gold. There’s so much you’ve helped me see that I would have never caught on my own, especially with Drive My Car which I just saw two weeks ago. These two videos are excellent. Again, thank you for doing what you do and keep up the great content!

[@lucasblue20]

Omg thank you so much! You've offered not only super encouraging kind words, but super insightful feedback. It means a lot! Yeah, the analysis/explained videos will remain the core of the channel, those videos are my babies, so those will keep getting uploaded consistently. And I'm really glad you like the agendas, I've always thought they kinda make the video easier to navigate through and more exciting in a way. And yes, Drive My Car is super challenging and fascinating so I'm so happy you had fun with these two videos like I did! I really appreciate you letting me know all of this, it means so much to me! Thank you!!

[@tranaproductions]

Great video! This movie has become one of my favorite movies ever, as there is something very therapeutic about it. Excellent analysis too, might I add. Great job on this one.

[@lucasblue20]

So glad you enjoyed the video! And yes, there's a sense of peace throughout the film even though it is covering such heavy subject matter, which does make it very therapeutic, I totally agree. Thank you so much again for your kind words!

[@spysteve]

Misaki mentioned that she could tell if someone is lying, so it is likely that no matter if her mother's split personality Sachi was an act or not, her love towards Misaki was real.

[@Milark]

Was looking for exactly this, didn’t expect such a high quality video on this.

[@lucasblue20]

I’m so happy to hear this! I’m really glad the video offered what you were looking for because the film is so great and deserves the attention. Thank you so much for watching and for your kind words!!

[@RandomGuyWhoComments.]

Im almost mad at myself for undervaluing the movie so much and not understanding they symbolism… after i watched the movie i was left empty and confused on what i even watched, i knew it was about grief and such but i thought there would be more… but after watching this analysis, its made me realize what a great movie it was. I just wish I understood it the first time

[@worawatli8952]

I've just watched the film last week, I know about it since production because it stars a Saab 900, I'm a Saab owner and I understand how reliable these cars are. Saab cars are very comfortable but it is also safe, safest car of that era in a crash, so it further symbolised the car as Yosuke safe spot, even though other people doesn't understand and look at it as just an old car. At the end, it pretty summed up how people driven Saab are, they will hold on to it as long as they can. They last forever if properly cared for, it need a lot of care on schedule to stay reliable, but if it got it, they last, it is the perfect vehicle for the story. Murakami obviously knows a lot about cars, or probably driven one, in the original novel, it is yellow though, they changed it to red to make it stand out and fit better in all scenery.

[@zosiapawlak627]

this analysis is so good

[@lucasblue20]

Thank you so much again!!

[@sethrogaine]

How stunning and brave a movie with the message "Live, Laugh, Love."

[@Cristobels-Green-Boots]

Wondrous! I’m already in love with part 2 - you could say that I’m haunted by it...I replay it, as if I’m a child who has to keep making sure it’s still there... I do (at least I did) have problems reading Murakami, which previously meant ALL of his output; I’ve mentioned elsewhere that the only feeling I experienced when I finished ‘Kafka on the Shore’ was relief! Your insightful interpretation - & so beautiful delivery - has got me thinking that I might benefit from focusing on the short stories; I haven’t enjoyed the sample, on Audible, of ‘Drive my Car’; (Audible is my go-to for novels of any great length, but the readings have to be ‘right’). I’ve just discovered another reading, right here on KZbin, so I’ll give that a try - but nothing will be allowed to impinge on your really wondrous synopsis! The Coda at the very end, could be interpreted in different ways - the Director said in interview, that he used it to ‘stop the movie being perfect’! I’m quite happy with the ambiguity, even though you don’t see it that way... Thanks again! 🙏🏻🌹🙏🏽

[@lucasblue20]

Thank you so much, I'm so glad the film and the analysis have reached you like this! I actually haven't read Murakami or watched any of the director's insights, which is why you may be able to draw so much more from either of them. They're both clearly brilliant thinkers. I'm so glad you enjoyed and thank you so much for watching!!

[@davidsheriff9274]

@@lucasblue20 why do people think the last scene is ambiguous or open to a wide array of interpretations? It seems to be pretty simple self-explanatory to me.

[@ColdAngels]

Beautiful conclusion and very deep analysis! Love it

[@lucasblue20]

I’m so glad you enjoyed this, you’re too kind! Thank you!!

[@Oatomeal]

You got yourself a new subscriber! I enjoyed your analysis on the film and didn’t mind it being split up into two parts. I decided to watch the movie after the oscar buzz and was glad that I did.

[@lucasblue20]

Wow, thank you! That really means a lot to me, and yes, the film caught so much buzz, especially after the oscars, so I’m really glad you got to see it and loved it as I did. Thank you again so much for watching!!

[@siddheshmisale3904]

Great analysis. This movie is a modern masterpiece.

[@lucasblue20]

Thank you so much, and I’m so glad u also loved the film! It’s so great!

[@krishanthafernando8866]

Great analysis. 👍

[@lucasblue20]

Thank you so much!!

[@malna-malna]

That helped me see so much more! I also think that Yusuke's resistance to play Vanya is reflective of his refusal of playing out the role his wife had written for him (she writes the scripts! he's an actor). So this is why he chose to 'not see'. edit: Someone else is the driver but he's in for the ride and he does not often like the way his wife drives. The thing that struck me most, personally was talking about how we may never know the other person to the fullest, but if we try hard enough, we can know ourselves. And this is also how Yusuke's plays work - actors speak different languages, they often don't understand the other actor but they gain clarity by getting into a relationship with their own lines.

[@Noventus7]

Some great insights that i'd missed, thanks!

[@lucasblue20]

My pleasure! Thank you so much my friend!!

[@tarekallaf8935]

thank you for your meaningful analysis you channel deserves much more views because the content is very rich I want to ask you about the last scene, what do you think about the scar that disappeared from her face , could that means that she moved on in her new life and removed all the past "scars" ?

[@lucasblue20]

I can’t believe I didn’t catch this hahaha I’m so glad you brought this to my attention! But yeah, I would say it means she was able to move on, like the pain of her past is no longer attached to her. Thank you so much for mentioning this, it really ties in with the point of the conclusion!!

[@starofmitra]

Great video. Thx

[@lucasblue20]

My pleasure, thank you!

[@Marc-io8qm]

Great point about blind spots

[@lucasblue20]

Thank you!!

[@Absolotle]

@@lucasblue20 I think another blind spot reference is through the car itself. It's wheel is on the left side of the car, but in Japan they drive on the left side of the road - that leaves a big blind spot for the driver. At the end, in Korea (something I only understood from the comments here), the blind spot is gone (cars travel on the right side).

[@triceratops7084]

Great analysis!Need to see more of your stuff

[@lucasblue20]

Thank you so much my friend! Plenty more to come!!

[@Patrick-Boss]

Great!💯

[@LlamaDuck2211]

Very nice video. Also, I think Koshi plays Vanya as he is jealous of Yusuke because of Oto, but Yusuke stars as Vanya later, as he starts having the same regrets, so both fill the role when they feel the role.

[@lucasblue20]

Thank you! And I love your observation, it ties in nicely with how much the role consumes Yusuke when he plays it. Thank you for watching!!

[@noodlen.9779]

You're smart! Love your analyses. Did you think that yasuke was trying to mess up the young uncle vanya actor out of jealousy? That he knew he would break?

[@WaterHazard86]

Thoughts on tackling The Handmaiden or Oldboy?

[@lucasblue20]

I can’t find a legal copy of Oldboy anywhere in my city haha but I will cover it eventually, it’s such a fantastic movie! I’m gonna check the indie stores in Downtown Vancouver this weekend. And the Handmaiden would be great too from everything I’ve heard about it, I know it’s on Netflix so I’ll include that one in my next poll on Tuesday next week! Thanks so much for bringing these up, I hope I find Oldboy!!

[@WaterHazard86]

@@lucasblue20 Sounds good man, till then keep up the good work and analyze whatever you please :}

[@Oatomeal]

Hey just commenting here for another recommendation, ‘Decision To Leave’. It’s a Korean film and I would love to get your take on the story of the film!

[@lucasblue20]

Yeah this movie came out when I was away in October and November visiting family. I still haven't seen it but I'm suddenly hearing so many great things about it on people's end-of-year lists. I'll watch it this month, and hopefully I can fit in some time to analyze it. It's playing in my city's local theatre, so I'll likely see it this weekend! Thank you for bringing this up to me!

[@1newbbie]

I love your intrepretation that the car was passed on to Misaki (7:53) but the plate numbers are not the same.

[@davidancona2170]

Because she moved to South Korea

[@1newbbie]

@@davidancona2170 So that's why. Thank you very much.

[@sethrogaine]

@@davidancona2170 she killed the main character and stole the car. to avoid the police she moved to korea and changed licese plates. (it's in the novel."

[@davidsheriff9274]

But what exactly was it that got the two of them to get over their guilt and shame and move on to productive happy lives? How did Misaki actually get over the guilt of letting her mother die in the house, and what was it that allowed Kafuku to get past the guilt he had for pushing Oto away and not giving her what she emotionally needed which drove her into the arms of other men? Kafuku said to Misaki in the car after she opened up about the landslide something like"you killed your mother and I killed my wife". How was that guilt resolved, what exactly happened in their minds that allowed themselves to become unburdened? Two people being able to commiserate in their pain is not enough to heal them. Maybe it was just the fact that becoming aware that we are not alone in our suffering and that we have to keep going , like what was told to us in sign language at that stunningly beautiful scene at the end of Uncle Vanya. Healing from extreme trauma is a long process,it doesn't happen from a hug at the top of a snowy mountain. I guess what I'm saying is that the ending was a little too pat for me. I can tell you from personal experience that true healing is a lot messier than that. Anyway, I saw the movie two weeks ago in the theater and I loved it so much I actually went back and saw it again, that is the first movie I have ever done that with. It is one of my favorite films. I can't stop thinking about it. What I wrote, might have sounded like a criticism, but I think of it more like a continuation of the questions that arise from the film. I am obsessed with the movie, I am reading the books of short stories it came from ( men without women) . I listen to the soundtrack as I lay in bed at night because it reminds me of the movie.

[@lucasblue20]

I think it was all of the time that they spent together that led them to realizing that they can move on and develop new loving relationships. They spent a lot of time opening up and that was the first step that neither of them have taken for so long. From there, they realized how much pain they shared and figured out together how to grow from it. So essentially, I feel like the snow scene was the end of their journey in realizing how to move on. They addressed their trauma by visiting Misaki’a old house and made peace with their past. I hope this clarifies my interpretation. And I’m so glad you loved the movie, it’s fantastic! I’m really happy to hear it resonated with you. Thank you so much for watching and offering your thoughts!!

[@davidsheriff9274]

@@lucasblue20 those are good points, it's interesting that you say that "the snow scene was the end of their journey in realizing how to move on". I kind of saw it as the beginning of their journey. I think when people are wracked with a great deal of emotional pain, one of the things that makes it even worse, is the feeling that we are alone in what we are going through, and that nobody understands us. In my previous comment, I said that two people being able to commiserate in their pain is not enough to heal them, which I think is true, but it can go a very long way. Even finding one person that you think truly understands you and cares about you can be a monumental thing. It's a Life changer or even a life saver. I think what each of those two characters needed to hear from each other was that they were not monsters that deserved no mercy, that they were just flawed imperfect people like everybody else. There is a saying, "just because there are questions, doesn't mean there are answers". I think that is an important thing to Learn in life. Kafuku and Misaki were able to come to terms with the fact that the motivations behind the decisions they made regarding the people they loved may remain a mystery, and not everything human beings do is logical and rational, that then allowed Kafuku to forgive Oto for her infidelity and Misaki to forgive her mother for her abuse. I guess that is what Takatsuki meant when he said, if you want to understand other people, you have to look into your own heart. I guess the main message of the movie for me was, cut yourself a little slack. Or as I once heard someone say"God didn't want any competition,so he made people".

[@lucasblue20]

I completely agree with your points, it was the beginning of their journey to move on, it was just the end of them realizing they could move on. And yeah, your final takeaway of forgiving yourself is what I would totally say too. Guilt can way you down your entire life. I’m really glad you mentioned that. Thanks again!!

[@Cristobels-Green-Boots]

@@davidsheriff9274 - hello David! From my own experience, I can assure you that your life can change in a second...these two can accept their trauma, but recognise that it doesn’t mean unending loneliness...that what they can give is what matters; then we go on to ‘Uncle Vanya’ - a part that Kafuku said that he never wanted to play, but now is ready to, & in Sonya’s beautiful conciliation, she could be seen as Misaki’s alter ego, both deriving comfort from ‘what is’...

[@lucasblue20]

@Barbara Weaver I couldn’t have said it better myself, I strongly agree. Thank you!!

[@ZulLife-m4w]

im here cause of zhafvlog

[@s_k_47]

After watch you uploading two videos of a movie, I decided to watch it first before watching your review. Now after watching it I have ques- Why Yashuko chooses that guy for acting in his show? After knowing he is the one who was cheating with his wife?? Why he never confronted him in bar ?? why he didn't told oto the last story he was watching on laptop, did he knew the story is related to his life??

[@lucasblue20]

@S K these are great questions, ok so I think Yusuke casts Koshi and never confronts him because he’s continuously stuck in this in-between state where he wants to keep his problems at arms length, but can’t make that step to confront them. It’s the same in-between state he was in with his wife throughout his marriage when he knew he was being cheated on. I think he’s also fascinated with Koshi’s pain that he feels connects with the play (as I expanded upon in the video). And yes, Yusuke certainly remembered the Lamprey/girl story the next morning, but he pretended he didn’t remember because he sensed that the story was about how Oto feels in their marriage. If he reminded her of it, he would be one step closer to hearing the hard truth of how Oto feels deep down. And we’ll never know exactly how Oto felt because she died before anyone could truly know. And that’s the unresolved tragedy that Yusuke realizes he has to learn to live with at the end of the movie (in the snow particularly). But this is all just my theory and approach, I’m sure there are many more points to draw from it. I hope this helps!!

[@erikjj235]

I was confused why the ending scene was her moving to South Korea. Why did she move to South Korea? Is it a irrelevant point?

[@eddiekrankowski4319]

Any ideas why she was in Korea at the end of the movie?

[@sethrogaine]

she plans to sell the dog as food

[@danielramsey6141]

Japanese social norms are very different, and you gotta admit how interesting that all is.

[@triceratops7084]

Do a Kubrick film!Like Eyes wide shut or 2001!

[@lucasblue20]

Both legendary films that I still have not seen haha I’ll add Eyes Wide Shut to a poll very soon because I’ve had quite a few requests for that. I’ll be watching both very soon surely though because it’s a crime to be a film analyst and not have seen either. Thank you so much for suggesting!!

[@triceratops7084]

@@lucasblue20 wow can't believe you haven't seen 2001,its my favorite film actually.Both very difficult films to analyze tho,they have so many hidden details.Have you seen any Kubricks?

[@lucasblue20]

@@triceratops7084 haha I know, Stanley Kubrick is a director I have very little knowledge on, yet the one film I've seen from him was spectacular, The Shining. I'll surely analyze both 2001 and Eyes Wide Shut. You'll likely see videos for both no later than this summer. Thank you so much for bringing these up, I can't wait to cover them!!

[@xMiRaCLeSuNx]

dope

[@Aliens-Are-Our-Friends2027]

nice

[@gibakigamer4041]

Yusuke deserved a better wife that made him happy.

[@grahamswann1507]

If it takes three seperate analyses of some 18 minutes to explain this movie then it obviously hasn’t done its job. The pretentiousness of the movie about mostly unliveable people is breathtaking! And worse are sycophants who have given it good reviews. If you read the story this movie is hardly recognisable from the original text.

[@sethrogaine]

him picking the person that cheated on his wife to play the main character of his play is just silly and dumb. I hear your reasoning but still doesn't make any real logical sense.

[@damianstarks3338]

No big deal we have the conclusion.

[@ktom5262]

What a retarded comment.

[@ChaunceyGardener]

Your analysis just made me more angry at this movie. It seems to be designed to be disassembled like this. But the director just failed in communicating all those meanings in a clear and entertaining manner. So watching without knowing the meaning just left a bad movie in the surface. The excuse plot to unite the old guy and the Initial D girl is lazily conceived. Their bond is poorly developed and the grand final emotional scene is a poorly stretched monologue. The dialogue at various points seems to come straight from a light novel. And Toyotas are more durable.

[@sethrogaine]

thank you. feel like I'm living in the land of the blind with people praising this terrible movie