If you want to read my review of Drive My Car, read this post. In ドライブ・マイ・カー, Yusuke lost his wife, Oto, unexpectedly. After years of mourning, he accepts a job that requires him to have a driver and it is in this friendship that he finds the courage to face the past.
Oto Kafuku (Reika Kirishima) did several artistic collaborations with her husband, was a successful screenwriter and a wife full of secrets.
“When you return tonight, can we talk?”
Yusuke Kafuku (Hidetoshi Nishijima) was a renowned actor and theater director. Perhaps, if he had come home earlier, he could have found out why his wife was cheating on him and what other secrets she had.
“Of course. Why do you ask?”
That night, upon arriving home, Yusuke found Oto lying on the floor with no vital signs. Years before, they had lost a daughter and now he will never have the chance to know her better, understand why the secrets and lies in their marriage.
Drive My Car: japanese movie review
2 years later, Yusuke got into his beloved red turbo Saab 900, produced between 1978 and 1993, and went to accept an invitation to direct a play at the Hiroshima Arts and Culture Theater.
Yusuke had owned the Saab for 15 years, in perfect condition. For that reason, he was very reticent with the contractual determination that forced him to accept Misaki Watari (Toko Miura), as his chauffeur.
“I go over my lines while I’m driving. It’s an important routine for me.”
Offering a private driver was not a matter of hospitality. Years ago an artist had run over a person in a terrible accident.
“It’s become the rule to provide a driver for our resident artists, no exceptions.”
In Yusuke’s case, it was a very prudent decision. He was developing Glaucoma in his left eye. Despite initial fears and the Saab being an old, first generation car, it soon became clear that Misaki was an excellent driver.
”I like that car. So I understand why you take so good care.”
Yusuke would spend 2 months in Hiroshima, 6 weeks for preparations and 2 weeks for the presentation. Wherever he needed to go, Misaki would take him.
“I’m glad she was assigned as my driver. Is how I feel now.”
Purposefully, to rehearse his lines, Yusuke had asked for a hotel 01 hour away. This period of time ended up giving space for the development of a friendship between Misaki and Yusuke that would give the two strength to face their respective pasts.
Drive My Car review: Oscar, Cannes and much more
It is possible that, Drive My Car is the Japanese movie with the most nominations for awards in the history of Japanese cinema and also the biggest winner of all time.
In Cannes alone, there were three awards. Drive My Car also won the Academy Award for Best International Film, the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film and the BAFTA Award for Best Non-English Language Film.
As a layman in the field of film criticism, I wasn’t at all surprised by this performance. If Japanese films have more international visibility, the awards will come and the success of Drive My Car will be surpassed.
Why you should watch Drive My Car
I won’t leave Drive My Car ending explained or a download link here, but even if it hadn’t competed for so many awards and won the most important ones, I would still recommend it for you to watch.
It’s a wonderful Japanese film with beautiful images of this country that I love so much. I know that many viewers in the West are not used to the density of Japanese cinema. But, that’s a big part of the magic. You patiently fall in love over the course of the film.
Drive My Car trailer
I really feel that you will like this one. So I decided to do this Doraibu Mai Kā review. Go ahead, immerse yourself in the story, the environment and the soundtrack.
And come back later to tell me what you think in the comments. This movie was one of the most awarded in the history of Japanese cinema.
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