Drive My Car
Seen it?2021 | 179 min | Drama
Friday Night FlickWhy it’s a Friday Night Flick
Critics loved it (97% on Rotten Tomatoes), it won 2 Oscars, audiences rate it highly (7.4 out of 10) and it made about 12 times its budget. Make plans for this one.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who loves a strong drama. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Emotional (bring tissues).
- The pace
- Unhurried and epic, at 2 hr 59 min.
- What might put you off
- It's long: 2 hr 59 min.
- It's in Japanese, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
Yusuke Kafuku, a stage actor and director, still unable, after two years, to cope with the loss of his beloved wife, accepts to direct Uncle Vanya at a theater festival in Hiroshima. There he meets Misaki, an introverted young woman, appointed to drive his car. In between rides, secrets from the past and heartfelt confessions will be unveiled.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
97% on Rotten Tomatoes, 91 on Metacritic
- AudiencesStrong
7.4 out of 10
- AwardsVery strong
Won 2 Oscars: Academy Awards: Best International Feature Film, Academy Awards: Best Non-English-Language Film. Won 1 Golden Globe: Golden Globe Awards: Best Foreign Language Film. Won 1 BAFTA: British Academy Film Awards: Best Film Not in the English Language. Won 1 Critics' Choice Award: Critics' Choice Awards: Best Foreign Language Film. Won 1 Cannes award: Cannes Film Festival: Best Screenplay. Won 1 Independent Spirit Award: Independent Spirit Awards: Best International Film. Also nominated for 3 more Oscars and 2 more BAFTAs. Plus 27 other awards.
- Box office & staying powerStrong
$15 million worldwide on a $1 million budget
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 243K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi
- Hidetoshi NishijimaYūsuke Kafuku
- Toko MiuraMisaki Watari
- Masaki OkadaKōshi Takatsuki
- Reika KirishimaOto Kafuku
- Park Yu-rimLee Yoo-na
- Jin Dae-yeonGong Yoon-su
- Sonia YuanJanice Chang
- Ahn Hwi-taeRyu Jong-ui
- Perry DizonRoy Rossello
- Satoko AbeYuzuhara