Learning to Drive (film)

Learning to Drive

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Isabel Coixet
Produced by Dana Friedman
Daniel Hammond
Written by Sarah Kernochan
Starring
Music by Dhani Harrison
Paul Hicks
Cinematography Manel Ruiz
Edited by Keith Reamer
Thelma Schoonmaker
Production
company
Lavender Pictures
Core Pictures
Distributed by Broad Green Pictures
Release dates
  • September 9, 2014 (2014-09-09) (TIFF)
  • August 21, 2015 (2015-08-21) (United States)
Running time
90 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Box office $3.4 million (USA)[1]

Learning to Drive is a 2014 American comedy drama film. Directed by Isabel Coixet and written by Sarah Kernochan based on a New Yorker article by Katha Pollitt,[2] the film stars Patricia Clarkson as Wendy, a successful book editor taking driving lessons with instructor Darwan (Ben Kingsley) after the breakup of her marriage to Ted (Jake Weber) forces her to become more self-sufficient. This is the second collaboration between Ben Kingsley, Patricia Clarkson, and Isabel Coixet.[3]

The film was named first-runner up for the People's Choice Award at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival.[4] The film was released on August 21, 2015.[5]

Plot summary

Learning to Drive is about the unlikely friendship that develops between two very different New Yorkers. Wendy is a sharp-tongued author whose husband just left her, inspiring her to embrace her independence and learn how to drive. Her teacher, Darwan, is a gentle Indian Sikh driving instructor with an impending arranged marriage. As Darwan teaches Wendy how to drive, they both learn valuable lessons about relationships, life, and the value of friendship.[6]

Cast

Reception

Reviews for Learning to Drive were mixed to positive. Review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a 66% score from 56 film critics' reviews, with an average 6.3/10. The consensus states: "The story's a bit predictable, but Learning to Drive is elevated by typically strong work from stars Patricia Clarkson and Ben Kingsley."[7] On another review aggregator, Metacritic, the film has a score of 59 out of 100, based on reviews from 23 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[8]

References

  1. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=learningtodrive.htm
  2. "Patricia Clarkson as Katha Pollitt in Isabel Coixet's Learning to Drive". Indiewire, August 21, 2013.
  3. Labrecque, Jeff. "Ben Kingsley on Learning to Drive and working with the female Scorsese". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  4. "‘The Imitation Game’ Wins Toronto Audience Award". The Wrap, September 14, 2014.
  5. McClintock, Pamela. "Broad Green Sets Release Dates for First Six Films". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  6. Saito, Stephen (September 12, 2014). "TIFF '14 Interview: Isabel Coixet on Taking the Wheel for "Learning to Drive"". The Moveable Fest.
  7. "Learning to Drive (2015)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  8. "Learning to Drive". Metacritic. Retrieved August 22, 2015.

External links


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