The deceptively simple act of driving is rich with symbolism that can easily be seen as reflective of various aspects of life. Think about it: stepping on the gas, hitting cruise control, slamming on the brakes, looking in the rear view mirror, allowing yourself to get distracted, having to keep an eye on those around you, missing your exit, finding yourself in unfamiliar territory, etc., etc., etc. Driving as metaphor is a device that the comedy-drama "Learning to Drive" (R, 1:30) uses to maximum advantage.
Wendy Shields (Patricia Clarkson) is a self-absorbed New York book editor who is slow to realize that her 20+ year marriage is coming to an end. She is shocked when her husband, Ted (Jack Weber), tells her that he's leaving her. Even though Wendy understands that Ted has been cheating on her, she still believes that this is a phase and he'll come back. She's naturally distraught about the situation, but it seems to be less about losing the love of her life and more about losing the life she loved. She was very comfortable in her marriage and her routine. Maybe too comfortable. Maybe that's what doomed the marriage. Both Wendy and Ted stopped trying. The difference is that Ted realized it and Wendy didn't. Rather than talking about it, Ted acted out and Wendy was blind-sided. And two lives were upended.
The other difference between Wendy and Ted is that Ted had something to move on to, while Wendy is having trouble moving on at all. Not only had Wendy depended on Ted for comfort and security, but also for driving. As residents of the Big Apple, with all its subways and taxis, they didn't drive much, but when they did, it was Ted behind the wheel. Wendy doesn't even have a license or know how to drive how to get anywhere on her own. (Starting to see those metaphors I was talking about?) Wendy needs to learn to drive – to "get from A to B", but also to establish her independence, and to move forward – figuratively and literally. She wants to be able to visit her college-aged daughter, Tasha (Grace Gummer), who lives on a farm – for from New York's public transportation system. Enter Darwan Singh Tur.
Actually, Darwan (Ben Kingsley) entered the story in the movie's very first scene. He happened to be the cab driver who picked up Wendy and Ted outside the restaurant where he told her that he was leaving her. After Darwan dropped Ted off at his mistress' house and then took Wendy home, he found an envelope that she had left in his cab. The next day he brought her the envelope, but this time he was driving his other "company car", that of a driving instructor. Wendy notices and asks for his card. She calls to schedule her first lesson, but Darwan has to cajole her to even get into the car. Her reluctance turns to fear as soon as she gets behind the wheel. Fortunately for Wendy, Darwan is a good teacher, and a good and patient man. He gets her to pull away from the curb and the metaphors continue.
As Darwan teaches Wendy about the finer points of life, er, I mean driving, the two form an unlikely friendship. As much as Wendy needs Darwan's patience and companionship, he needs her wisdom. He has agreed to a marriage arranged for him by his sister back in India. When his bride, Mata (Daniela Lavender) arrives in the U.S., he doesn't know how to relate to her. Both Darwan and Mata are middle-aged and never married, but they are different in every other way, and, one day after meeting, they're husband and wife. Darwan soon finds himself as desperate and clueless as Wendy was when she first entered his cab, and his life. As with any driving lesson, they each experience stops and starts in learning to handle their new lives, but each benefits from the wisdom and inherent goodness of the other.
"Learning to Drive" is a slight, but pleasant enough lesson in resilience, perseverance and friendship. The driving metaphors are very effective, if a bit too obvious at times. Clarkson's performance is very good, except for when she oversells the fear that an accomplished woman of her years experiences while engaged in the simplest tasks inside a car. Wendy and Darwan are both likable and amusing characters, even if the film sometimes moves as slowly as Wendy during her first lesson. "C+"
Wendy Shields (Patricia Clarkson) is a self-absorbed New York book editor who is slow to realize that her 20+ year marriage is coming to an end. She is shocked when her husband, Ted (Jack Weber), tells her that he's leaving her. Even though Wendy understands that Ted has been cheating on her, she still believes that this is a phase and he'll come back. She's naturally distraught about the situation, but it seems to be less about losing the love of her life and more about losing the life she loved. She was very comfortable in her marriage and her routine. Maybe too comfortable. Maybe that's what doomed the marriage. Both Wendy and Ted stopped trying. The difference is that Ted realized it and Wendy didn't. Rather than talking about it, Ted acted out and Wendy was blind-sided. And two lives were upended.
The other difference between Wendy and Ted is that Ted had something to move on to, while Wendy is having trouble moving on at all. Not only had Wendy depended on Ted for comfort and security, but also for driving. As residents of the Big Apple, with all its subways and taxis, they didn't drive much, but when they did, it was Ted behind the wheel. Wendy doesn't even have a license or know how to drive how to get anywhere on her own. (Starting to see those metaphors I was talking about?) Wendy needs to learn to drive – to "get from A to B", but also to establish her independence, and to move forward – figuratively and literally. She wants to be able to visit her college-aged daughter, Tasha (Grace Gummer), who lives on a farm – for from New York's public transportation system. Enter Darwan Singh Tur.
Actually, Darwan (Ben Kingsley) entered the story in the movie's very first scene. He happened to be the cab driver who picked up Wendy and Ted outside the restaurant where he told her that he was leaving her. After Darwan dropped Ted off at his mistress' house and then took Wendy home, he found an envelope that she had left in his cab. The next day he brought her the envelope, but this time he was driving his other "company car", that of a driving instructor. Wendy notices and asks for his card. She calls to schedule her first lesson, but Darwan has to cajole her to even get into the car. Her reluctance turns to fear as soon as she gets behind the wheel. Fortunately for Wendy, Darwan is a good teacher, and a good and patient man. He gets her to pull away from the curb and the metaphors continue.
As Darwan teaches Wendy about the finer points of life, er, I mean driving, the two form an unlikely friendship. As much as Wendy needs Darwan's patience and companionship, he needs her wisdom. He has agreed to a marriage arranged for him by his sister back in India. When his bride, Mata (Daniela Lavender) arrives in the U.S., he doesn't know how to relate to her. Both Darwan and Mata are middle-aged and never married, but they are different in every other way, and, one day after meeting, they're husband and wife. Darwan soon finds himself as desperate and clueless as Wendy was when she first entered his cab, and his life. As with any driving lesson, they each experience stops and starts in learning to handle their new lives, but each benefits from the wisdom and inherent goodness of the other.
"Learning to Drive" is a slight, but pleasant enough lesson in resilience, perseverance and friendship. The driving metaphors are very effective, if a bit too obvious at times. Clarkson's performance is very good, except for when she oversells the fear that an accomplished woman of her years experiences while engaged in the simplest tasks inside a car. Wendy and Darwan are both likable and amusing characters, even if the film sometimes moves as slowly as Wendy during her first lesson. "C+"