Learning to Drive (2014)

As her marriage dissolves, a Manhattan writer takes driving lessons from a Sikh instructor with marriage troubles of his own. In each other's company they find the courage to get back on the road and the strength to take the wheel.

Director:

Isabel Coixet

Writer:

Sarah Kernochan

Stars:

Patricia Clarkson, Ben Kingsley, Grace Gummer

1 win & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Patricia Clarkson	...	Wendy
Ben Kingsley	...	Darwan
Jake Weber	...	Ted
Sarita Choudhury	...	Jasleen
Grace Gummer	...	Tasha
Avi Nash	...	Preet
Samantha Bee	...	Debbie
Matt Salinger	...	Peter
John Hodgman	...	Car Salesman
Michael Mantell	...	Wendy's Dad
Daniela Lavender	...	Mata
Gina Jarrin	...	Paige
Rajika Puri	...	Darwan's Sister Rasbir
Beau Baxter	...	Debbie's Husband
Randy Graff	...	Divorce Attorney

Storyline

Wendy (Patrician Clarkson), a self-absorbed New York book critic, is shocked to reality by the sudden end of her marriage. Always dependent on her husband for driving, she must now learn to take the wheel on her own. Her instructor Darwan (Ben Kingsley) is a Sikh Indian who watches with alarm as his pupil falls apart at the seams. He himself is contemplating an arranged marriage with a woman he has never met. As these two lives intersect, both will change in unpredictable ways.

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Plot Keywords:

driving | arranged marriage | unlikely friendship | tantric sex | immigrant | 

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Taglines:

It's never too late to begin a new adventure.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and sexual content

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 August 2015 (USA)

Also Known As:

Learning to Drive - Fahrstunden fürs Leben

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$66,015 (USA) (21 August 2015)

Gross:

$3,446,820 (USA) (20 November 2015)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Broad Green Pictures, Lavender Pictures, Core Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

At the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival screening, Patricia Clarkson revealed that her name was attached to this project for nine years and didn't drop out of it because she loved the script.

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Quotes

Darwan: You can't always trust people to behave properly.

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Connections

Featured in The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Sir Ben Kingsley/Henry Cavill/Reba McEntire (2015)

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Soundtracks

Mathar
Written by Volker Kriegel
Performed by Dave Pike (as The Dave Pike Set)
Courtesy of MPS Records / EDEL Germany GmbH

User Reviews

A very warm and straight-forward movie with very like-able characters and a wonderful perspective of human behavior

Isabel Coixet's light hearted, soulfully intimate low-key comedy drama is a lovely excursion.

Wendy(Patricia Clarkson) is a sharp-tongued book critic, struggling to take control of her life, as her husband walks out of their 21 year old marital life for a younger woman. Her only daughter is off at Vermont.

Darwan(Ben Kingsley) is a cab driver and driving instructor, who has a calm dignifying character underneath his authoritative exterior. He is proud of his U.S citizenship as well as his cultural heritage. Darwan is portrayed as an honest, hard-working Sikh immigrant from India.

Having never been behind the wheels, Wendy decides to get her driver's license and take control of her life. The clash of personalities lead to scenes of comic tension and witty comedy. Wendy is dumbstruck and tries to understand how Darwan's marriage with Jasleen, a woman he never met before works. The plot also takes time to show the struggles of Jasleen(Sarita Choudhary) to adapt to a new country and husband who is struggling to express his emotions.

As the platonic friendship between the culturally diverse lead duo develops, they help each other to move forward with their lives. "The driver's biggest problem is everyone else. You cant always trust people to behave properly" says Darwan. Ain't that true in real life as well?

Learning to Drive takes its time developing characters, which is its major strength. Its a very warm and straight-forward movie with very like-able characters and a wonderful perspective of human behavior.