Header Image: Drive My Car Official Website
Drive My Car, a film directed by Hamaguchi Ryusuke, has already won many prestigious awards starting off with a Cannes Best Screenplay award and an Academy Award for Best International Feature. Why is this movie so great and so loved? We interviewed people from around the world who enjoyed the film.
Table of Contents
- What’s the big deal with Drive My Car?
- Murakami Haruki’s Drive My Car
- Drive My Car at Cannes Film Festival and other Awards
- The Brilliance of Drive My Car’s Screenplay
- The Actors of Drive My Car
- The Director of Drive My Car: Hamaguchi Ryusuke
- Takeaway
What’s the big deal with Drive My Car?
If you’re not familiar with the phenomenon that is Drive My Car, it’s a film directed by Hamaguchi Ryusuke (濱口 竜介) that sparked international interest when it won Best Screenplay Award at the 2021 Cannes International Film Festival.
To share only the very basics of the story, the main character Kafuku Yusuke (家福 悠介) is producing a multilingual version of Anton Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya, all while dealing with the sudden death of his wife two years prior. Amongst the cast of his play, is an actor who was close to his wife. Yusuke also gets to know the woman assigned to drive him between his temporary residence and play rehearsals in his beloved red Saab 900. The story seems very simple but the dialogue, emotions and ensuing events make for a captivating 3-hours film.
The wonderful thing about this film is that it can’t be narrowed down to just one reason why this film is so internationally acclaimed. The screenplay, directing, acting, cinematography, music and more all come together to make this film an award-winning feature.
This article will touch on a variety of reasons why this film is so acclaimed and loved, with voices from all over the world.
Writer's Pick
Murakami Haruki’s Drive My Car
Drive My Car is a film based on a short story by Murakami Haruki (村上 春樹), a renowned author in both Japan and overseas. His works have been translated into many languages, including English, and you can find Drive My Car in Murakami’s Men Without Women, a collection of short stories.
A couple of people we interviewed said they were interested in the film because they were already a fan of Murakami.
“I really like the film adaptations of Murakami’s works, like Norwegian Wood. I also read his works [that were translated] in Thai.” - 40s, Thailand
This fan expressed that regardless of awards, Murakami fans would have been interested anyway to see how that short story was adapted for the big screen, and not just for the story but also how such a short story was expanded into a 3 hours film.
Another fan expressed that they,
“could definitely see the resemblance of [Director Murakami’s] style in the way the movie was filmed. Murakami has always been very cinematic with his writing and although this is not the first time one of his stories gets adapted into film, this one seemed more appealing [to me personally].” – 20s, Puerto Rico
For such fans, such a brilliant, heartfelt adaptation was very anticipated and appreciated. And as divisive the opinions of Murakami Haruki people tend to have (people seem to really love or dislike his work, both Japanese and non-Japanese readers), something in Drive My Car resonated with a lot of people.
And Murakami himself seems to have enjoyed the film, according to an interview with director Hamaguchi Ryusuke on The Wrap.
Drive My Car at Cannes Film Festival and other Awards
If the name Murakami Haruki wasn’t one to catch your attention, perhaps the fact that Drive My Car was not only nominated but won awards at Cannes Film Festival - and many other film awards ceremonies to follow - was what piqued your interest.
It certainly was for many of the people we interviewed.
Japanese films have been gaining more recognition at Cannes in recent years, with the film Shoplifters winning the coveted Palme d'Or in 2018. And Drive My Car became the first time Japanese filmmakers won Best Screenplay. (It also won the FIPRESCI Prize and Prize of the Ecumenical Jury.) As the film won these awards in July, a month before the film was released in theaters in Japan, much attention was focused on the film in anticipation for its release.
Here is a list of just some of the many awards and accolades this film has received. (The official Instagram account has an entire highlight dedicated to just awards!)
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Best Feature Film and Best Screenplay - Asia Pacific Screen Awards (Australia)
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Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Screenplay - National Society of Film Critics (United States)
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Best Foreign Language Film - Golden Globes (United States)
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Best Film, Best Screenplay, Best Foreign Language Film - Toronto Film Critics Association (Canada)
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Best Film Not in the English Language - British Academy Film Awards (UK)
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Picture, Director and Screenplay of the Year (+6 more awards) - Japan Academy Film Prize (Japan)
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Best International Feature film - Academy Awards (United States)
The film was also nominated for Best Picture (the first Japanese film thus far), Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay at the Academy Awards (United States) in addition to many other nominations around the world.
Why is it garnering so much international attention and accolades?
Well, it’s quite rare that a Japanese film is available for international audiences to watch in the first place - with some exceptions of course. Japanese media has been hard for overseas audiences to access because of tough copyright laws in Japan - which means a lot of Japanese anime, drama, and film fans have had to access such media through other means, often illegal and with fansubs.
But recently, thanks to worldwide streaming services, Japan is finally allowing more of its media to be shown overseas - with official subtitles - and with that, more films like Drive My Car may be available to watch in places outside Japan.
And as one fan states,
“being nominated and winning at Cannes put it on the map” - 40s, Thailand
At the same time, many think the film also came at just the right time - the Western film industry has been criticized for its lack of diversity in its award shows, and in efforts to expand its world view, more foreign films have been considered and then subsequently nominated for - and won! - awards that have often mostly been given to American and British made films. This time, as mentioned above, not only is Drive My Car nominated for Best Foreign Language Film, but also Best Picture for the Oscars.
As a Japanese film fan expressed,
“What happened to Drive My Car I think is an accumulation of amazing works by Japanese movie makers for decades and (the Korean film) Parasite winning an Oscar 2 years ago.” - 20s, Indonesia
It may even be true that Drive My Car wouldn’t have been nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards had not the movement to be more diverse in film award nominations been in effect for these past few years, as well as how 10 nominations are now allowed for Best Picture.
But even so, just being a “foreign language film” at the right time isn’t enough to garner a nomination. Let’s take a look at the content.
The Brilliance of Drive My Car’s Screenplay
Every single person we interviewed expressed the same sentiment - that 3 hours went by quickly and there was not a single moment the person felt disengaged or bored.
This can be attributed to many things, but the screenplay by Hamaguchi Ryusuke (director) and Oe Takamasa (大江 崇允) is definitely a big part.
“I love the details Hamaguchi put in his movie, and the storytelling he’s doing (by using a linear plot), because it’s a movie about moving forward and continuing life, so the linear plot without flashbacks is wonderful to see. I’ve watched many movies, and flashbacks are okay, but Hamaguchi took a risk by not doing it and it actually works so well.” - 20s, Indonesia
This linear plot may come as a surprise to many, as the most basic synopsis is that the main character Yusuke is grappling with the death of his wife Oto as he directs a play. However, the film spends the first 45 minutes or so intimately exploring Yusuke’s relationship with his very alive wife before the title card of the film even shows, but this opening is crucial to understanding how Yusuke acts for the rest of the film, instead of just explaining through dialogue.
That engaging linear plot “makes the audience feel like they’re “driving” (through the story) through the main character” (30s, Indonesia), as you follow along with him as he practices his lines in the car, is driven from place to place, as well as the fact that many crucial conversations and confessions take place in the car over time.
The other fascinating aspect of the screenplay is the ongoing play in production within the film. The film doesn’t shy away from capturing the entire process at length - from the audition, to the table read of the play’s script which never seems to end yet engages the audience through how the cast of the play is from all around the world and speaks different languages to create this multilingual production of Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya. It is this seamless incorporation of Uncle Vanya, its themes and the preparation for its performance into the overall narrative that creates for masterful storytelling.
One viewer shared how while diversity often seems forced in recent Western media, Drive My Car “despite it already being a foreign film from our perspective, showcased diversity almost effortlessly, which is something the western world is hungry for, and it was executed with a refreshing and new light.” She went on to explain that seeing the actors rehearsing in different languages and trying to communicate with each other in this way was incredibly engaging and rewarding to watch. She states that “if there would have been one character in that stage play talking in Spanish, it would have definitely given me a sense of pride, because representation [in the film] isn’t much about appearance but in intention. The fact that they all spoke a different language gave the movie a lot more stakes as well.” -20s, Puerto Rico
It’s no wonder that this engaging screenplay and the incredible execution of it has won so many awards.
Is Drive My Car relatable?
Some people believe that a film’s worth hinges on whether the story and the characters are relatable. Others believe personal relatability is not as important, as long as the film is able to move you through the plot and characters. How does Drive My Car fare?
Well for one thing, it’s based on a Murakami Haruki work, whose characters are not always very relatable as they tend to be idealistic (of course, this is subjective), but the themes of his works and the everyday settings tend to speak to people.
As one viewer puts it,
“I have no car, am not married, and have never experienced a great loss. The conflict of the main character does not resonate at all for me, but I have to say this is a wonderful movie because of its delivery.” -20s, Indonesia
Another viewer states,
“I think people relate to profound loneliness [...] All the characters come into the play alone. The director (Yusuke) is widowed, searching for greatness in his art direction. The driver is alone in this new city, alone with no family, the director as well. The actor is alone because he's ostracized by society. But they find each other.” -20s, Canada
And yet another wraps it up perfectly with the following,
“It's okay not to relate to characters or completely understand - there will be many interpretations including whether the ending is realistic or idealistic” -40s, Thailand.
She believes that as long as even just one thing in the story moves her and leaves a strong impression, that work was worth watching.
Thus perhaps it’s not relatability that makes this movie popular, but the expression of emotions that is so powerfully conveyed through its characters and story. But there may be moments where those emotions hit quite close to home, and the final message of the film - while we won't spoil it - is something that speaks to all of us.
The Actors of Drive My Car
Let’s take a brief look at each of the amazing actors who brought the characters to life.
Nishijima Hidetoshi 西島 秀俊
Image Credit: Drive My Car Official Website
Already an acclaimed seasoned actor in Japan, Nishijima Hidetoshi's role as the main character Kafuku Yusuke led him to not only win Best Actor awards in Japan and overseas as well.
Check out his other work:
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きのう何食べた? (Kinou Nani Tabeta, What Did You Eat Yesterday?) on Netflix
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Crisis: Special Security Squad on Netflix
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僕とスターの99日 (Boku to Star no 99 Nichi, 99 Days with the Superstar) with Kim Tae-hee on Amazon
Miura Touko 三浦 透子
Image Credit: Drive My Car Official Website
Arguably the breakout star of this film, as she won the Newcomer of the Year award at the Japan Academy Film Prize, Miura Touko left a huge impression on the audience as Watari Misaki (渡利みさき), the quiet, observant driver who shuttles Yusuke back and forth between his temporary residence and rehearsals for the play. Their quiet yet meaningful discussions in the car allow them to build a deeper relationship beyond driver and passenger.
Miura is actually a singer, known especially for singing the theme songs of popular animated film 天気の子 (Tenki no Ko, Weathering With You). Miura has actually been acting since 2002 but this is her breakout role. Check out her filmography here and her music here.
Okada Masaki 岡田 将生
Image Credit: Drive My Car Official Website
Okada Masaki plays Takatsuki Koji (高槻 耕史), the main actor in the play Yusuke is directing. His reckless and carefree personality drives a lot of conflict as it clashes with Yusuke’s very serious demeanor, and he also has history with Yusuke’s late wife, leading to a lot of tension between them.
Okada has been in the acting industry for a long time as well.
Check out his other work:
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僕の初恋をキミに捧ぐ (Boku no Hatsukoi wo Kimi ni Sasagu, I Give My First Love to You) from which he won several Newcomer of the Year awards; on Netflix
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宇宙兄弟 (Uchuu Kyoudai, Space Brothers) on Netflix
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大豆田とわ子と三人の元夫 (Omameda Towako to Sannin no Motootto, My Dear Exes) on Netflix
The Director of Drive My Car: Hamaguchi Ryusuke
Image Credit: Drive My Car Official Website
Hamaguchi Ryusuke has been an award-winning director from Passion, which was his graduation project from film school. His films Happy Hour and 寝ても覚めても (Netemo Sametemo, Asako I & II) were nominated for and won several prestigious awards at film festivals around the world. He has also directed documentaries as well as written screenplays, such as スパイの妻 (Spy no Tsuma, Wife of a Spy). They can all be viewed on Amazon, including Drive My Car.
Takeaway
We didn’t even have time to mention it in the article, but other aspects that also contribute to the captivating film include the soundtrack by Ishibashi Eiko (on Spotify), the gorgeous cinematography with beautiful locations in Hiroshima and along the Seto Inland Sea, as well as iconic shots with the red car, Misaki and Yusuke sticking their cigarettes out the sunroof of the car, and many more. No matter what aspect of the film spoke to you most, it’s clear that Drive My Car is a movie that stays with you a long time after you watch it.
