🎬 Title: Drive My Car (ドライブ・マイ・カー)Release Year: 2021 / Director: Ryusuke Hamaguchi / Runtime: 179 min
⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (My Rating: 4/5)
Synopsis
Adapted from Haruki Murakami’s short story, Drive My Car follows a stage actor-director coping with grief and human connection during a Chekhov play rehearsal process.
Review
Hamaguchi’s film is a meditative journey through loss, communication, and the meaning of performance.
The pacing is deliberate, but the emotional payoff is profound. The acting—especially by Hidetoshi Nishijima—is nuanced and restrained, pulling the viewer deeply into the characters’ silence.
Highlights
- Profound exploration of grief and human connection
- Strong performances (Nishijima, Park Yoo-rim, Toko Miura)
- Oscar-winning screenplay adaptation
Lowlights
- Slow pacing may challenge some viewers
- Runtime (3 hours) could feel long
Verdict
A haunting and poetic masterpiece that lingers long after the credits.
Credits
Cast: Hidetoshi Nishijima, Toko Miura, Reika Kirishima
Writers: Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Takamasa Oe
Music: Eiko Ishibashi
