Drive My Car follows the story of a stage actor and director who in a sudden turn of events becomes a loner with a lot of pain buried inside him. Now, if you are familiar with Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s previous work Wheel Of Fortune and Fantasy then you would know that his films are conversational with a lot of dialogues expressing the mindset of the protagonists. There wouldn’t be flashbacks, instead the characters would narrare incident according to how they feel at the moment rather than showcasing a gaze on the hindsight. And the story is a tale of strength, valour and heartbreak with a dash of philosophy. The screenplay is a slow burner where each incident is fleshed out. But be assured that the writing is layered and nuanced and offers to speak a lot through many subtexts. This is not your conventional storytelling technique where you are spoon fed as an audience. The sequences are open to interpretation and mostly demand your entire attention to feel every emotion of a couple of broken souls. Each of the two protagonists are flawed with a lot of guilt and remorse buried inside them. Yet, there is a bit of hesitation in opening up as they continue to bury the pain like so many of us. This single aspect is just so relatable, the way we bury our anger and pain deep inside us while portraying a happy face to the world.

The scenes involving the theatre and the act adds a lovely subtext to the drama. The conversations might feel put on at the very beginning but slowly they get easier just like life. The subtle twists and turns are interesting as you are already so invested in the drama. The final monologue is philosophical which comes after a scene of acceptance to reality and moving on. The philosophical nature is so well enacted and conveyed that it is sure to touch your heart. This is perhaps the best written screenplay of the year – so poignant and touching. A masterclass in screenplay writing!