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 & 5 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:

windshield wiper | cell phone | laying one's head on someone's lap | taxicab | teenager | 

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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 French

Release Date:

21 August 2015 (USA)

Also Known As:

Aprender a Conduzir

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$66,015, 23 August 2015, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$3,446,820, 22 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

[first lines]
Darwan: Slow down. Park there. Mr. Yampolsky, you have followed all the rules. You'll pass your test tomorrow, I'm sure of it. And after you get your license, I suspect you'll buy the biggest, fastest car, and throw all the rules out of the window.
Student Driver: [scoffs]
Darwan: It is not a joke. Remember driving is a freedom. I wish you to enjoy every kind of freedom... As long as you don't hurt someone. You promise me?
Student Driver: Okay, Mr. Singh.
Darwan: Mr. Singh Tur.

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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

El Tun Tun De Corazon
Written by La Palabra
Performed by Orquesta La Palabra
Courtesy of LoveCat Music

User Reviews

Covering various layers of life

I find this movie is surprisingly charming. It's a story we can relate to. Things happened in our everyday lives which might not be significant enough to draw attentions to. However, they touched a bit of our unintended emotions. It even took on lightly challenging subjects like racism, depression, rages and religions which all transpired smoothly into the storyline with some humors even.

The story of middle aged women divorcing from their long time husbands is not a fresh subject after all. Nevertheless, most people probably could even care less of it. However, the success of this movie is it used this overly done subject and given a new lease of life. In the beginning, I was not too sure to watch it. To my own surprise, I am glad that I gave it a shot when I finished it. Lives can serve you bitter dishes, how to turn them around it's entirely up to you. The middle aged romance is no longer involving carnal desires and emotional longing. It steers the directions to work out your own issues and hold up your end of responsibilities.

Patricia and Ben Kingsley did convincing performances for their roles. This movie reminded me of "Lost in Translations". I think they both share the subtleties of wordless emotions. We don't need thunderbolts and lighting to make memorable films. We need is slowly riveting awareness and self assured triumphs. Maybe I am old.