Learning to Drive has a familiar set-up,
and it doesn’t take long to figure out where the story is heading. It takes
remarkably longer for the film to actually get there, stumbling down the
well-worn narrative path, easily distracted by unnecessary and redundant
sequences. Boiled down to its essence, Learning
to Drive is little more than a short film which has been bloated by
repeated sequences pounding the transparent metaphor of the title into
audiences’ brains. It is a mild and innocuous; not so much bad as it is bland
and forgettable, despite the best efforts from its stars.
The film opens
with a chance encounter between Wendy (Patricia Clarkson) and Darwan (Ben
Kingsley) on the streets of Manhattan
Darwan falls a
little too easily into the role of stereotypical hardworking immigrant, keeping
several jobs in order to bring over a wife for an arranged marriage, despite
the constant battle against stereotyping and cultural ignorance because of the
turban he wears. He is stoically wise and kind, providing as much wisdom about
life as he does about driving. Moments of the film almost begin to address what
it is like to look as Darwan does and live in New York City
There is little
glaringly wrong with Learning to Drive,
though it also does little to stand out or earn the emotions of the climactic
scene. I mostly had to figure out where the story was going through
expectations and familiarity, with too many of the scenes themselves feeling
out-of-place. My attention span eventually lost in the battle to focus on this
narrative, though it makes adequate background noise for lonely people doing
chores around the house. The DVD special feature only includes a photo
gallery.
Entertainment Value:
5/10
Quality of Filmmaking:
5.5/10
Historical
Significance: 3/10
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