LEARNING TO DRIVE
DIRECTOR: Isabel Coixet
CAST: Patricia Clarkson, Ben Kingsley
CLASSIFICATION: 16 LS
RUNNING TIME: 90 minutes
RATING: 3 stars (out of 5)
Lara de Matos
A storyline centred on that of a middle-aged woman losing her longstanding husband to the wiles of a younger femme fatale is hardly what one would deem original material. Particularly when such a plot is overseen by our twanged-brethren to the north, who would invariably resort to predictable melodrama and “why me?” angst.
But Spanish director, Isabel Coixet’s dextrous touch sees what could otherwise have been a run-of-the-mill narrative transformed into a poignant tale of life, loss, love, laughter and – ultimately – friendship.
When Wendy (Clarkson) is unceremoniously shoved aside by her husband of more than two decades, she finds herself drowning in a heady mix of despair, disbelief and stoic resolve that “all’s well that ends well”.
That is, until it dawns on her this is not just another of her hubby’s seven-year-itch indiscretions and she is faced with the daunting reality of life as a single woman. A woman of a certain age and in a city whose dating scene is geared toward the twenty-something set, no less (Sex and the City fantasy fare notwithstanding).
Unbeknown to her, the taxi driver inadvertently forced to bear witness the night her darling spouse tells her he’s kicking her to the curb, will become an integral part of her life post marriage… as she finds herself having to rediscover her long-lost sense of self and her – gulp! – independence.
For his part, said taxi driver, Darwan (Kingsley) was forced to flee his home country due to religious persecution, and while he may have been granted political asylum and is, thus, a citizen of the US, he’s hardly living the proverbial American Dream.
A cab driver by night and a driving instructor by day, this highly-educated man now faces discrimination of a different kind, spewed by ignorant locals (as evidenced by the fact they refer to him as Bin Laden – when he is, in fact, Indian) from across the racial spectrum.
When Wendy enlists his services in the hopes of finally securing her driver’s license (this, as part of her attempt to reclaim her autonomy), it’s as though a force akin to kismet has brought these two troubled souls together, despite their vastly distinct backgrounds and views on life.
So unfolds a delightfully choreographed platonic dance between a quintessential liberal New Yorker and a sometimes stern, but warm at the core conservative Sikh, as they attempt to navigate the complexities of human existence through simple companionship.
Both Clarkson and Kingsley play their parts to a perfect tempo, with hints of humour, grief and disenchantment precisely placed, further attesting to their standing as Academy Award nominated and Oscar-winning actors, respectively.
Not surprisingly, many an American critic has deemed the film bland and even pedestrian (perhaps they felt they had to get their own back for being portrayed as a cretinous and intolerant lot).
But for the thinking film-goer who enjoys a feature that doesn’t rely solely on sex, shooting scenes and special effects to hold audience interest, Learning to Drive is an absolute gem.
If you liked My Life Without Me or Pieces of April, you will enjoy this offering.