LEARNING TO DRIVE Trailer
As you get older, explosions and sexual innuendo in movies no longer bring you the excitement they used to when you were younger. It’s not even that you want to see something overly artistic. Quite the opposite. You want something clever that tickles your brain but sticks to a certain maturity level. Essentially, you want to watch a movie that makes you feel like an adult. Not just any adult but the cool cynical adult that needs that every-now-and-again reminder that life isn’t so bad. Let’s discuss the trailer for the movie Learning to Drive.
This rom-com is directed by Isabel Coixet and stars Sir Ben Kingsley and Patricia Clarkson. Wendy, a well-known writer lets cynicism color her world after her husband commits adultery. This view starts to fade as she starts taking driving lessons with her Sikh instructor. Through their interactions together, they gain the courage and strength to move on with life. The Sikh instructor, Darwan, is currently going through with an arranged marriage. Both teacher and student are on journeys into new experiences that will give them more open perspectives.
Of all the positive things that can be said about this film is that it is smart. Driving becomes the main metaphor for many lessons of life. One lesson is that the “driver’s biggest problem is everyone else” and “you can’t always trust people to behave properly”. Wonderful lessons for beginners in driving and in life. Yes, it’s a bit preachy but the advice is sound and worth your attention. Additionally, it’s interesting to see a whole script dedicated to using driving lessons as a metaphor for how to live.
Another thing is that it’s a condensed story. It’s dedicated to just these two characters and their struggles. It also has a smooth pacing from what I can tell in the trailer. Nothing is rushed, you take in their words with an accompanying example.
Personally, I also love the quips. In a conversation with a man, Wendy gets advice to take yoga. She responds that she takes ambien to take her mind off things. That’s worth a chuckle at least. It’s a clever little thing to do, to cut into the preachy dialogue when the story gets saturated with life lessons. Incidentally, I also learned life lessons from my Latino driving instructor many years ago. Driving instructors are a wise people.
Learning to Drive heads into U.S. theaters August 21st and teatros de España 15 Augusto. There are currently no other release dates.
Tell us your thoughts!
(top image source: Broad Green Pictures)
Does content like this matter to you?
Become a Member and support film journalism. Unlock access to all of Film Inquiry`s great articles. Join a community of like-minded readers who are passionate about cinema - get access to our private members Network, give back to independent filmmakers, and more.
