“A
measured and familiar, yet warm and pleasant, trip to moving on.”
Patricia Clarkson and Ben Kingsley star side-by-side as
student and teacher, respectively, in Learning
to Drive, a film based on the 2002 first-person confessional by Katha
Pollitt published in The New Yorker. Directed
by Isabel Coixet, this heavily-acted, well-meaning low-budget indie dramedy is
a freedom metaphor, speaking of self-powering lessons obtained from learning
how to drive an automobile.
Wendy Shields (Clarkson), a middle-aged literary critic living in
Queens, faces the biggest ordeal in her life yet. After 21 years of marriage,
her husband, Ted (Jake Weber) is leaving her for an author whom Wendy has been
reviewing fanatically. They are fighting about it and even while being at the
backseat of a cab, they keep on arguing. Incidentally, Wendy mistakenly leaves
her latest manuscript inside the cab. The next day, the driver, Darwan (Kingsley), returns the papers to her.
Wendy has a sister, Debbie (Samantha Bee), and a daughter,
Tasha (Grace Gummer), both living in the outskirts of New York. Wendy is a
regular commuter, relying on the public transport or on her husband to take her
around the city or visit Tasha. With the recent events, she feels the need to
learn how to drive. Seeing Darwan’s student training vehicle, she immediately
hires him as an instructor.
Darwan is a Sikh living in an overcrowded room with his
fellow refugees. He offers driving lessons during the day and drives a cab at
night, or vice versa. Just as Wendy hangs on the verge of divorce, he is yet to
meet his bride from India, Jasleen (Sarita Choudhury). With their time spent
together, Wendy and Darwan soon form a respectful type of friendship as they
aid each other in grappling the changes in their lives.
Learning to Drive
tenders a warm and well-meaning story. Steering clear of complications and
unnecessary twists, its plot is simplistic yet sensitive enough to give sound lessons.
It is basically a character study involving two equally opposite figures. Wendy
is the middle-class, high-strung white woman while Darwan is the stereotypical
hardworking Indian immigrant in the land of opportunities. They may be entirely
different but the film provides an ample sweet time for their character to grow
and develop.
As observed, Wendy is the loyal wife whose passion for her
craft takes the joy out of her marriage. In the process of divorce, the couple
has to divide their assets and it pains her to sell their house. She is
desperate to get her husband back, resorting even to a funny seduction, but
still to no avail. Meanwhile, Darwan executes kindness and empathy in spite of
his vulnerabilities. Aside from working multiple jobs, he also looks after his
sister’s son. He takes pride being in America, despite being called as “Osama”
because of his turban.
Wittingly, their driving lessons become an instrument for
them to teach other matters about life and love, even being appalled with their
cultural disparities. Darwan is dismayed with Wendy’s dissolution of a 21-year
marriage, while the latter is shocked with him tying the knot with a woman he
has never even met before. Yet, they maintain a mutual respect and
understanding. Wendy moves on to a smaller home while Darwan, being shy with
his emotions, eventually establishes harmony in his basement apartment with his
new wife who initially struggled adapting to American life.
Without being preachy or whiny, the film expresses its
insights through symbolisms and allegories related to driving. The moment they
start their lesson, Darwan tells Wendy to “read the sign,” which may also
relate to her looming divorce. With Darwan’s various instructions referring to
changing lanes, crossing bridges and not stopping in the middle of the road,
the film offers lingering messages about undertaking new challenges in life
with alertness and openness.
Undeniably, Clarkson and Kingsley are remarkable with their
roles. Clarkson is a graceful artist as she adeptly adjusts with Wendy’s fears,
regrets and hopes. Kingsley has a stiff and alert posture as Darwan throughout.
Yet, at the core of his strained delivery lies sweetness and compassion.
Learning to Drive may
have a banal material but it is impressively acted out, beautifully shot and
competently edited that viewing experience becomes pleasant. With its clear-cut
lessons and metaphors, it simply goes beyond entertaining.
Production
company: Broad Green Pictures
Cast:
Patricia Clarkson, Ben Kingsley, Jake Weber, Sarita Choudhury, Grace Gummer,
Samantha Bee
Director: Isabel Coixet
Screenwriter: Sarah Kernochan,
based on the autobiographical essay by Katha Pollitt
Producers: Dana Friedman,
Daniel Hammond
Executive producer:
Gabriel Hammond
Director of photography:
Manel Ruiz
Production designer: Dania
Saragovia
Editor: Thelma Schoonmaker
Composers: Dhani Harrison,
Paul Hicks
Sound: Anton Gold
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