Drive My Car - Movie Review

[@Sakamori14]

The ending left me with a huge question mark. So Misaki is in South Korea (yes, clerk speaking Korean in the supermarket, hangul on the store, right side driving and not left as in Japan) driving Kafuku's car, buying, if I remember well, more groceries than a small young woman would buy only for herself. And another great point that a fellow viewer highlighted for me is the dog, that looked very much like the Korean couple's dog. Are they all working in Korea now? Or Kafuku just gave her the car and now she drives for the couple? Actually Kafuku parting with the car could be a metaphor of moving on from his ritual of 'talking to his wife'. What do you think? Also as we had a discussion about it, Oto's story was a nicely wrapped confession of her actions and feelings to Kafuku, and the end of the story delivered by Koushi was the best scene. Our deduction was that Oto knew that Kafuku was aware of her cheating on him. I don't know if this was the director's intention, but our theory fitted nicely, and it made me think about it even more. Can't wait to see it again, hopefully in cinema again because otherwise my attention would probably drop in those 3 hours.

[@DeepDiveMovieReviews]

(Steve here) I think the metaphor of moving on to the next season of his life and leaving behind some rituals is spot on. Also I agree that the wife was aware her husband knew of her extracurricular activities.

[@kinosine]

I thought it was a 5/5. It’s not for everyone of course, but for an introspective film that deals with emotion, character, and personal history rather than plot... it’s flawless. In the same vein as Linklater’s Boyhood.

[@toki37611]

Thanks for this illuminating deep dive review! I like the mirror analogy that you alluded to. Just as the mirror was the only way each of the two main characters could “see” each other in the car, the mirror may also symbolise how each character served as a reflective device for the other to come to terms with his/her honest feelings. Relatedly, what may also be thought provoking is that in the final hour of this movie, the wall between the two characters finally broke down (following the intense and revealing conversation between Kafuku and Koji in the backseat), such that Kafuku then moved into the passenger seat and was positioned alongside the female driver, finally allowing them to “connect” at the same level emotionally and making the mirror redundant, culminating in the unforgettable sunroof/cigarette scene and then the emotional climax in Hokkaido. This slow burn movie certainly grows on you after watching!

[@DeepDiveMovieReviews]

Wonderful perspective. Your comment made me think of the sunroof scene as Kafuku and the driver breaking the glass ceiling they had imposed in their own lives

[@jhavajoe3792]

@@DeepDiveMovieReviews B-B-Butt, still with emotional reserve not to stink up the car. What a beautiful cinematic shot.

[@davidsheriff9274]

Did Takatsuki ever realize that Kafuku was aware of their affair?

[@toki37611]

@@davidsheriff9274 That's a great question! [SPOILER ALERT] My interpretation is that he probably didn't, which perhaps led to the memorable exchange he had with Kafuku in the last hour of the movie. That is such an intense and loaded scene! The intimate space in the backseat of the car seemed to allow him to confess to Kafuku his affair with Oto as well as his recent killing of the man who took his photos, while grieving for the demise of Oto. To me, those few minutes or so were some of the best acting we saw the whole of last year!

[@pingu952]

In the coda, Misaki is shown being spoken to and speaking in Korean, as notated by the parentheses around the subtitles. Also, she's driving on the opposite side of the road (the correct side for the Saab.) However, because of COVID, the sequence was filmed in Japan, so the shopping center had to be made to look Korean and if you look at the Hyundais and Kias in the parking lot, you'll see that the steering wheels are on the left. This sequence was added to show how Misaki is able to move on, but also to reflect the lessons of the movie and play on our own experience living through this pandemic.

[@katherinebeattie2596]

This IS a film that calls for discussion, and not many of my friends have put in the 3 hours to watch it, so THANK YOU! I want to see more of Hamaguchi's films.. AND the actors . I'll start with Creepy.

[@DeepDiveMovieReviews]

(Steve here) Yes, I also need to see more of Hamaguchi's films myself. I'm sure the impact this film has had will make some of his back catalogue become more visible

[@mizziztee1852]

Finally watched Drive My Car on streaming. Loved the movie, and need to re-watch it again after listening to your insightful review. Thanks for your thoughts and enjoyed listening to your review.

[@DeepDiveMovieReviews]

Thanks Mizziz! And yes it is a wonderful movie and it's great it is getting the recognition it deserves

[@Crabitat]

Misaki is in Korea at the end - the supermarket checker speaks Korean. And check all the Hyundais in the lot ;-) I think the driver did need to be a woman even for a platonic relationship - she was a proxy for Kafuku's daughter, and his life had two previous tragedies involving females; this relationship and the emotional breakthrough he had with her will help heal his previous losses.

[@TimeIdle]

Right. His daughter if alive would be around Misaki's age.

[@tobsi2256]

Exactly Misaki's age.

[@steezybunz4390]

I feel like the driver definitely DID need to be a female. It was like kafuku was reconnecting with the daughter that he lost. He even says that his daughter would’ve been the same age as her if she was still alive

[@jhavajoe3792]

I'm captivated by plots where you have zero idea what happens next vs. the Hollywood formulas. Lengthy? Bah- not when it's solidly interesting. I think it helped, I read everyone of Murakami's novels, so expected a certain surreal, often dark mood. The cast was well chosen ( talk about a mix of different types). Thanks for the video discussion.

[@DeepDiveMovieReviews]

(James here) Thanks a lot for watching! I totally agree and think that this is one of the biggest rewards of exploring cinema from other countries and cultures - the unpredictable and surprising stories and approaches to storytelling.

[@tobsi2256]

On one of you saying you not knowing of this dark atnosphere in Murakami, I'll just give a couple of differences of the original short story. It is set ten years after Kafuku's wife's death and hus eyesight (same reason as in the movie) got worse so he needs a driver. He then speaks with the driver. Eventually, she asks him why he has no friends. He doesn't have any, he says, because of his wife. She was the only friend he needed, and two years after her death he befriended her affair to find out what she saw in this bad actor. The loss of their daughter is mentioned, too, and that she would be as old as the driver. In the movie, her mother died becauseof drunk driving and she learnt to drive so good because of the icy roads in her home town. So, the seperation of 8 years and things not happening at the same time makes the movie darker, however the short story isn't light either.

[@fredvonbargen7353]

Your web site is truly a find. I have missed being able to listen to critics review a film in detail. The last program dates to “Siskel and Ebert” where they took the time to look at all the aspects of a film and not just the stars and special effects. Having been able to hear a review of a foreign film is fantastic as I have become a “Cultural Barbarian” due to Covid and the restrictions it placed on my activity. I have indicated a request for a subscription and look forward to future programs.

[@DeepDiveMovieReviews]

Hi Fred, Steve here. Truly appreciate the kind comment and as one film lover to another, glad you are here.

[@djagtkmapgm4703]

Hokkaido is a large island on the north side of Japan. Misaki's hometown is Kamijitaki Village (a fictional village, actually taken in Akabira City, Hokkaido). Director Hamaguchi is particular about shooting the fictional world in a place that is close to reality.

[@DeepDiveMovieReviews]

Thanks for the clarification. Love Hokkaido, have been to the Yubari Fantastic Film Festival a number of times, beautiful part of the country.

[@josephinedemarco8749]

My joke theory about the possibility of any form of "romantic relationship" is that the girl driver moves in with him and the theatre company is on an international tour (at that moment Korea) and they are staying at an air B and B. The girl gets groceries while our male lead is running a rehearsal

[@DeepDiveMovieReviews]

(Steve here) Good theory but in my personal opinion I think the movie works the way it does is because of the plutonic relationship between the two. James may have another thought :)

[@josephinedemarco8749]

@@DeepDiveMovieReviews yeah it would have felt cheap if it were that blatantly obvious. And I agree it would have been even cheaper if they made her an actress too.

[@emptylikebox]

I just wish Drive My Car will be considered for Best Adapted Screenplay at the Academy Awards.

[@DeepDiveMovieReviews]

Fingers crossed. I think that's the category it stands the best chance of winning beyond Best Int'l Film, although the competition is likely to be fierce: Dune, Power of the Dog etc.

[@finalversion6237]

officially nominated for Adapted. woo hoo.

[@DeepDiveMovieReviews]

@@finalversion6237 And Ryusuke Hamaguchi for Director :)

[@lmansur1000]

The driver was NOT the primary focus! Sorry - I do not agree... there are many focuses in the movie... I personally feel that he and the driver was just a part... and it fulfilled, father daughter relationship issues between them.... but there are so many other issues raised up.... working through but all in a Zen kinda way... I loved that.

[@jimpahansen3738]

Speaking of how a multi languish play like this would work; I thought the knocking in the table, after finishing their lines during rehersal, was to help memorize when the actor before them was finished, and when to read theirs.

[@davidsheriff9274]

That's exactly right. So I guess the actors had to not only memorize their lines, but they had to memorize the lines of all the other characters they were doing scenes with because they could not act in response to what the other character was saying because they couldn't understand them. They have to act against their recollection of the lines from when they memorized them and as you say, they also had to remember when to begin their line after the other character finished their lines by remembering when the other character knocked on the table with their nuckles during the rehearsal. did I get any of that right or am I not understanding something?

[@ABCDuwachui]

I appreciated watching this after having seen it. I will see it again now, perhaps earlier in the day 😝

[@DeepDiveMovieReviews]

Thanks, glad our discussion on DMC was helpful. I think I need to watch it again before the Oscars

[@rosariosantana9703]

Pongan subtítulos en español por favor

[@prku2]

You do know it was a Saab? Right? Swedish, not Japanese nor a “Red Toyota”? However, my question was why didn’t they use a Japanese automotive brand? After all, The movie was called “Drive My Car” and you guys should really know what kind of car it was because to me, it does look like you were paying attention to the nuances of character interaction and the car as a cathartic confessional booth and the female character as a non judgmental priest like listener to that confession contributes to his familiarity with the environment (the car), allowing her to take over completely the direction his life is about to take with her at the wheel

[@DeepDiveMovieReviews]

(James here) Hi Peter, thanks for your comment. Sure, maybe we should have noticed what make of car it was, but I'm not convinced it really made much of a difference. If anything, the fact that it was Swedish rather than Japanese "could have" been used to make a point, but in this instance I don't think it was.

[@MrJenniferwahl8]

Would you review my movie script idea? Before I make it to the silver screen?

[@sieleeb]

The car is a SAAB. What about the epilogue? It opens the possibility of a romance.

[@DeepDiveMovieReviews]

Romance is always possible, but I thought what worked (among many aspects of this film) was the lack of romance between the two. The growing respect, awareness, and mutual connectivity was stronger than romance...in my opinion (Steve here)

[@katherinebeattie2596]

And did he GIVE the driver his car at the end?

[@siamcharm7904]

yes, she took great care of it. he gave to her to return home.

[@ifbut_then]

This movie was ok.. I generally like movies where silence plays an important part in a movie I think Lost in translation is the only movie which didn't make me feel bored

[@DeepDiveMovieReviews]

I need to rewatch Lost in Translation, its been a while.

[@topeyschwarzenbach9482]

You two talk too much, and you give away too much of the plot...I couldn't stand your pedantry....I thought Drive My Car was so moving and beautiful, and should unfold on the viewer....so, my recommendation is that you keep most of the story to yourselves...

[@DeepDiveMovieReviews]

(Steve here) I guess the "Deep Dive" in the show name and the spoilers warning didn't tip you off ;). Glad you liked Drive My Car though