Learning to Drive

Name: Learning to Drive
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance
Released: August 21, 2015
Duration: 90 min
Rating: 59
Cast: Ben Kingsley, Grace Gummer, Patricia Clarkson, Samantha Bee

2015

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Mixed or average reviews based on 24 Critics

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 16 Ratings

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6.5

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6.5	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 16 Ratings

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Learning To Drive

Movie Details & Credits

Broad Green Pictures | Release Date: August 21, 2015

Starring: Ben Kingsley, Grace Gummer, Patricia Clarkson, Samantha Bee

Summary: Wendy (Patricia Clarkson) is a fiery Manhattan author whose husband has just left her for a younger woman; Darwan (Ben Kingsley) is a soft-spoken taxi driver from India on the verge of an arranged marriage. As Wendy sets out to reclaim her independence, she runs into a barrier common to many lifelong New Yorkers: she’s never learned toWendy (Patricia Clarkson) is a fiery Manhattan author whose husband has just left her for a younger woman; Darwan (Ben Kingsley) is a soft-spoken taxi driver from India on the verge of an arranged marriage. As Wendy sets out to reclaim her independence, she runs into a barrier common to many lifelong New Yorkers: she’s never learned to drive. When Wendy hires Darwan to teach her, her unraveling life and his calm restraint seem like an awkward fit. But as he shows her how to take control of the wheel, and she coaches him on how to impress a woman, their unlikely friendship awakens them to the joy, humor, and love in starting life anew.… Expand

Director: Isabel Coixet

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy, Romance

Rating: R

Runtime: 90 min

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Awards & Rankings

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Critic Reviews

Philadelphia Inquirer - Steven Rea

Sep 10, 2015

A story of companionship, loneliness, resilience. It's a small, artfully crafted thing, but it resonates in big ways. Read full review

The New York Times - Stephen Holden

Aug 20, 2015

As this movie, directed by Isabel Coixet, tracks the deepening friendship between people from different cultures and backgrounds, it acquires an unforced metaphorical resonance. Read full review

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) - Brad Wheeler

Sep 3, 2015

[A] soulful, fluently told, low-key comedy. Read full review

New York Post - Kyle Smith

Aug 20, 2015

The movie putters along as softly as Wendy drives. Despite its lack of narrative horsepower, though, its character sketches are pleasing. And amusing. Read full review

Arizona Republic - Barbara VanDenburgh

Aug 27, 2015

What spares Learning to Drive is an awful lot of comedic talent and artistic good will. Clarkson and Kingsley imbue average material with easy charm and wit, clicking onscreen with the smooth platonic chemistry of old friends. Read full review

San Francisco Chronicle - Walter Addiego

Aug 26, 2015

Offers some hit-and-miss pleasures, but may finally strike you as pedestrian. Read full review

Slant Magazine - Clayton Dillard

Aug 18, 2015

Instead of using the titular metaphor as a means to seek deeper, darker ends, Isabel Coixet proceeds to restate it over and over again. Read full review

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User Reviews

GangKutti

Sep 16, 2015

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 daughterIsabel 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 potrayed 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.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

smiyamot

Jan 21, 2016

Two great actors, Patricia Clarkson and Ben Kingsley, in a character study, doesn't get much better than that. And the story line, as with many shows today, has two lives and what is changing in each, how they react to the changes, and a new life after a life changing event. Well writtenTwo great actors, Patricia Clarkson and Ben Kingsley, in a character study, doesn't get much better than that. And the story line, as with many shows today, has two lives and what is changing in each, how they react to the changes, and a new life after a life changing event. Well written and great acting.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

LeZee

Jun 14, 2016

The religious and cultural influence in the modern America.

The second film together for the two lead actors and the director. This film characters were well understood and executed with a full details. It is always women filmmakers who do a fine job like this. While the western world isThe religious and cultural influence in the modern America.

The second film together for the two lead actors and the director. This film characters were well understood and executed with a full details. It is always women filmmakers who do a fine job like this. While the western world is not able to differentiate between Sikhs and the one who they think these people are for just wearing turban, this film comes in handy to educate them. Especially the youths who are yet to grow up and learn what the real world is. No offense, just saying they are lack of the knowledge.

A simple drama about two people from two different races. Since they meet very often during the driving lessons, an unexpected bond develops between them and begin to understand each others agony despite their cultural gap. It helps them to re-organise their struggling life, but the relationship is put on a tested when it reached at a certain stage. How they react to it and the plan for the rest of their lives reveals before ending the narration smartly.

No twists, but the interesting concept and the choices of the characters makes the film one of the well organised low cost products with a quality of the practical standards. Ben was amazing as usual, and it is his one of the remarkable small roles. Patricia Clarkson too was in a very casual character display as a typical middle-aged American wife going through a crisis.

This film reminds me the 'Midnight My Love'. Somewhat similar film yet culturally differentiates. So this film's not about how good the story is, but the society, how it views a person from outside and inside. It is also about the individual characters on how their life transforms with a new friendship and while learning new stuffs to put behind their bad past. This film suit better for the adults because of the theme on them. So I suggest you if you are one to try this wonderful tale.

7/10… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

BHBarry

Sep 5, 2015

"Learning to Drive" stars Patricia Clarkson and Ben Kingsley in this simple film about an about to be divorcee and her struggles with this new role life has cast her in. Despite the fine acting and radiance of Ms. Clarkson, the film is shallow and two dimensional. Based on an article which"Learning to Drive" stars Patricia Clarkson and Ben Kingsley in this simple film about an about to be divorcee and her struggles with this new role life has cast her in. Despite the fine acting and radiance of Ms. Clarkson, the film is shallow and two dimensional. Based on an article which appeared in a magazine, this is a story that is more suited to a short Hallmark TV film rather than a feature length motion picture theatrical presentation. Please note my disclaimer since I am no fan of Mr. Kingsley who generally tries to portray characters inconsistent with his film image (e.g. "Sexy Beast"). Here, however, playing the part of a Sikh cab driver/driving instructor, Mr. Kingsley resorts back to his Ghandi style mode and, although suitable to what he does best, his character pontificates and remains so aloof that, as a result, it robs the film of the warmth and depth it so vitally needs. This is a film that can best be described as …"A woman gets divorced and takes driving lessons:" Anything beyond that is icing and fluff on a cake that itself isn’t that palatable. I venture to say that the gender of the viewer may well affect the reaction to the film since I noted that most if not all of the female members of the audience I was in really liked the film while, afterward waiting in the lobby, their male counterparts could be observed voicing their apparent displeasure as to what they had just seen. Although only an hour and a half in length, the film seemed much longer and, for me at least, earned only a 7.0..… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

GreatMartin

Sep 4, 2015

In “Learning To Drive” Wendi (Patricia Clarkson) is a successful writer and book critic who we meet as her husband (Jake Weber) is leaving for another woman. Darwan (Ben Kingsley) is a driving instructor who is an American citizen after looking for political asylum having been a prisoner inIn “Learning To Drive” Wendi (Patricia Clarkson) is a successful writer and book critic who we meet as her husband (Jake Weber) is leaving for another woman. Darwan (Ben Kingsley) is a driving instructor who is an American citizen after looking for political asylum having been a prisoner in India. In addition he is working a second job as a taxi driver and is about to embark in an arranged marriage with an older woman (Sarita Choudhury) from his previous country.

Wendi, being a New Yorker--“Queens is not New York” --has never learned, never needed to learn how to drive--”With buses, cabs and trains you don’t have to learn to drive in New York (Manhattan)--consequently you know these two people will be thrown together especially with Darwan a straight ahead, sage, correct way of thinking, metaphor spouting wise man and Wendi a writer with imagination, no discipline, who only in her writing is focused and otherwise not too smart about other people.

Darwan, as a cab driver, witnesses the break up between Wendi and her husband as they are his fares after the two storm out of a restaurant. Wendi’s daughter, Tasher (Grace Gummer) goes to school in Vermont, and works on a farm, so in order to see her daughter--”My husband always did the driving”--which is not near any accessible transportation, she decides to take driving lessons and the two people of different temperaments, cultures, different thoughts on marriage are brought together for this ‘small’ independent movie. No, it doesn’t go where you think it will but only by a near miss.

Ben Kingsley, having a thicker accent than he did as Ghandi, brings more to the role than the script gives him in scenes as when he is harassed for his race or talks about what happened to him in India while Patricia Clarkson is luminous and at the same time, within the same scene, uncomprehending what is happening to her. There is a funny sex scene with a blind date and Samantha Bee has the best, and funniest line, in the movie playing Wendi’s sister.

The two leads, as expected give excellent performances, Jake Weber is strong in his scenes with Clarkson and this is the first time I have been impressed with Grace Gummer though her role is woefully underwritten. Sarita Choudhury introduces an interesting aspect to the film which could have added another dimension if the screenplay by Sarah Kernochan and the direction by Isabel Coixet had followed through.

“Learning How To Drive” is a 90 minute movie that holds your attention with the acting, what the film could have been and what it does and doesn’t do in the short running time.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

TVJerry

Sep 21, 2015

When Patricia Clarkson gets in Ben Kingsley's cab, her husband has just dumped her. As she sets out to reclaim her life, she decides to take matters in her own hand…behind the wheel. That's when the mellow, wise, patient Indian immigrant comes back into her life. This film is basically aWhen Patricia Clarkson gets in Ben Kingsley's cab, her husband has just dumped her. As she sets out to reclaim her life, she decides to take matters in her own hand…behind the wheel. That's when the mellow, wise, patient Indian immigrant comes back into her life. This film is basically a dialogue between the two of them, as we watch their lives change and their relationship grow. As a result, it's all about the performances and with two fine actors like these, it's a pleasure to watch. There's nothing earth-shattering in the story or even emotionally deep, just a sweet, predictable adult movie.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

foxgrove

Jun 13, 2016

Going in to ‘Learning to Drive’ without any fore knowledge as to what it’s about one could be forgiven for expecting to be seeing a comedy. Therefore, it comes as a bit of a surprise to find that it is actually quite a serious little drama. The story concerns a man (Ben Kingsley) and a womanGoing in to ‘Learning to Drive’ without any fore knowledge as to what it’s about one could be forgiven for expecting to be seeing a comedy. Therefore, it comes as a bit of a surprise to find that it is actually quite a serious little drama. The story concerns a man (Ben Kingsley) and a woman (Patricia Clarkson) from very different cultures who, in the course of their time together as driving instructor and student, are able to embrace qualities from each other that have hitherto been lacking in their lives. It is a slight and insubstantial film, but there is sufficient originality and quirkiness in both writing and acting to appreciate its existence. It’s also great to see Patricia Clarkson in a rare leading role and she and Kingsley work well together. If ultimately the film falls short due to its limited ambition, it at least deserves recognition for attempting something different, albeit in a minor key.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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