Director Ryûsuke Hamaguchi adapts a short story into Drive My Car, a deeply felt story about loss and recovery. The result is a rich, compelling experience that explores relationships and exposes secrets.
A stage actor, Yûsuke Kafuku (Hidetoshi Nishijima), leads a life of bliss with his wife until tragedy strikes and his world is shaken. Years later, he becomes a director in residence for a theatrical company in Hiroshima and auditions a new cast. He also reluctantly accepts a driver, Misaki (Tôko Miura), to shuttle him around. During preparation for the play, both he and his driver slowly reveal aspects of their personal lives and as their respective pasts are revealed, they must find a way come to terms with painful truths.
The film is about personal loss and how revisiting old wounds can be a difficult yet necessary process to move forward. These leads have facades, but as you warm up to them, you begin to understand their trauma. Kafuku obsessively plays a tape with lines from the play, Uncle Vanya, and there are parallels with his own life as he learns more about his own wife. At first Misaki is a quiet, dutiful driver, but a deep guilt emerges as she begins to share her mysterious past. Kafuku and Misaki slowly form a bond that in time culminates in a heartfelt moment.
Interestingly,
the film begins with one of the longest prologues ever before the opening
credits. Beautifully shot, it also
concludes with a scene that ends abruptly but provides enough context to form a
definitive conclusion.
At three hours, this
brave, immersive film allows Hamaguchi to fully explore his characters; it’s one of the year’s best films. It also makes you want to read some Chekhov. (Japanese
with English subtitles.)
**** of **** stars
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