Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10
Cast: Patricia Clarkson, Ben Kingsley, Jake Weber, Sarita Choudhury, Grace Gummer, Samantha Bee, Avi Nash, Matt Salinger, Michael Mantell, Daniela Lavender, Rajika Puri, John Hodgman, Randy Graff, Nora Hummel.
In times of trouble it takes faith to keep calm, to see the world beyond the mirror that has been put in front of you and look past the person you once were, to not give in under the pressure to the thought of the future; in times of trouble it takes faith to be who you are.
Isabel Coixet’s charming film, Learning To Drive, sees Ben Kingsley and Patricia Clarkson give a faithful and overwhelmingly powerful portrayal of friendship across the divide, in terms of faith and religion, but also in the guiding hand of a teacher to a pupil. It is the type of film that really gladdens the heart to come across, and not just because of the two lead actors who are amongst some of the most believable characters to grace the screen.
Sarah Kernochan’s script embraces the way that faith, spirituality, in humanity and in diversity, can come through even the most upsetting of times and lead a person to a higher ground of confidence and devotion; that of believing wholeheartedly in themselves. It is a new beginning when that conviction hits home.
The charm of the film is carried by its gentleness, by the fact that is one based in loyalty, of commitment to strive to make a life more whole and it is a charm that works with undeniable glee.
When Wendy and Darwan meet, it is not fireworks, there is no attraction of physical bodies and minds, it is just the desire to help, the very natural feeling of wanting alleviate a fellow human beings suffering. It is brave cinema that makes much of not allowing the lead actors fall into bed even though there is a deep and flourishing relationship on offer, which is the point of the film is to recognise independence is required in the world, especially when a relationship breaks up in such a way.
Learning To Drive is a film of class, of simple elegance and one that is captured wonderfully by the ability of the actors in question; a film that doesn’t need a top gear because it rolls along perfectly somewhere in between gracious and divine.
Ian D. Hall