# Drive My Car

> 2021 film directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi

**Wikidata**: [Q107107865](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q107107865)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drive_My_Car_(film))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/drive-my-car

## Summary
Drive My Car is a 2021 Japanese drama film directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi. The film is based on a short story by Haruki Murakami and explores themes of grief, communication, and human connection through the story of a stage actor and director.

## Key Facts
- Directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi, released in 2021
- Based on Haruki Murakami's short story of the same name
- Stars Hidetoshi Nishijima, Tōko Miura, and Reika Kirishima
- Official website: https://dmc.bitters.co.jp/
- Has 33 sitelinks across Wikipedia language editions
- Released in multiple international dates: August 20, 2021 (Japan), November 24, 2021, December 23, 2021, and March 17, 2022

## FAQs
**What is Drive My Car about?**
Drive My Car follows Yusuke Kafuku, a stage actor and director who, after losing his wife, takes on a production of Chekhov's Uncle Vanya while forming an unexpected bond with his assigned driver.

**Who directed Drive My Car?**
The film was directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi, a prominent Japanese filmmaker known for his contemplative dramas exploring human relationships.

**What awards has Drive My Car won?**
Drive My Car won the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film and the Golden Globe Award for Best Non-English Language Film in 2022.

**Is Drive My Car based on a book?**
Yes, the film is based on Haruki Murakami's short story "Drive My Car" from his collection "Men Without Women."

## Why It Matters
Drive My Car represents a significant achievement in contemporary Japanese cinema, bridging literary adaptation with cinematic artistry. The film's exploration of grief, communication barriers, and the healing power of art resonates universally while maintaining distinctly Japanese cultural elements. Its success at international film festivals and awards ceremonies has elevated Japanese cinema's global profile and demonstrated the universal appeal of carefully crafted, character-driven narratives.

## Notable For
- Won the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film (first Japanese film to win since 1955)
- Received the Golden Globe Award for Best Non-English Language Film
- Won the Japan Academy Prize for Picture of the Year
- Adapted from Haruki Murakami's acclaimed short story
- Features a runtime of 179 minutes, allowing for deep character development
- Explores themes of grief, communication, and artistic expression through Chekhov's Uncle Vanya

## Body
### Production and Creative Team
Drive My Car was directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi, who co-wrote the screenplay with Takamasa Ōe. The film represents Hamaguchi's most ambitious project to date, expanding Murakami's 40-page short story into a nearly three-hour cinematic experience. The screenplay adaptation carefully preserves the source material's emotional core while adding new dimensions through visual storytelling and expanded character development.

### Cast and Performances
The film features Hidetoshi Nishijima as Yusuke Kafuku, the grieving theater director at the story's center. Tōko Miura plays Misaki Watari, Kafuku's assigned driver, while Reika Kirishima portrays Oto, Kafuku's late wife who appears in flashbacks. The cast also includes actors from various countries performing in multiple languages, reflecting the international production of Uncle Vanya within the film's narrative.

### Literary Adaptation
Hamaguchi's adaptation of Murakami's work maintains the author's signature themes of loss, memory, and the search for connection. The film expands significantly on the source material, adding subplots and characters that enrich the central relationship between Kafuku and Watari. The adaptation process involved careful consideration of how to translate Murakami's introspective prose into visual language while preserving the story's emotional resonance.

### International Reception and Awards
Drive My Car achieved remarkable success on the international festival circuit, premiering at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival where it won three awards. The film went on to receive the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film, becoming the first Japanese film to win this category since 1955's Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto. It also won the Golden Globe for Best Non-English Language Film and the Japan Academy Prize for Picture of the Year, among numerous other international accolades.

### Thematic Exploration
The film delves deeply into themes of communication and miscommunication, both literal and metaphorical. Kafuku's character suffers from a condition that affects his vision, requiring him to rely on others for transportation, which becomes a powerful metaphor for his emotional journey. The production of Uncle Vanya within the film serves as a parallel narrative, with characters performing in their native languages, creating a unique exploration of how art transcends linguistic barriers.

### Cultural Significance
Drive My Car represents a significant moment in Japanese cinema's relationship with global audiences. The film's success demonstrates the universal appeal of Japanese storytelling when combined with international artistic collaboration. Its exploration of grief and healing through art resonates across cultural boundaries, while its specific Japanese context provides authenticity and depth to the universal themes it addresses.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.goldenglobes.com/winners-nominees)
2. [Source](https://www.japan-academy-prize.jp/prizes/45.html)
3. [Source](https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2022)
4. [The Hollywood Reporter](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/drive-my-car-fipresci-critics-prize-winner-1235203256/)
5. The Movie Database
6. IMDb
7. Terjesztésre kerülő filmalkotások és artfilmek nyilvántartása
8. [IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14039582/releaseinfo)
9. Drive My Car
10. [Source](https://www.daviddidonatello.it/vincitori/vincitori-premi-david-di-donatello.php)
11. [Source](https://www.spio-fsk.de/asp/fskkarte.asp?pvid=620604)
12. [Source](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt14039582)
13. [Source](https://www.kijkwijzer.nl/films/drive-my-car/)
14. [Source](https://www.eirin.jp/list/index.php?s_year=2021&s_month=7&e_year=2021&e_month=7&pageID=1)
15. film distribution certificate
16. [Source](https://sede.mcu.gob.es/CatalogoICAA/info/4522/1/34/209.pdf)
17. [Source](https://ui.eidr.org/view/content?id=10.5240/7544-9652-DCB3-4A8B-16D0-4)
18. Danish Film Database
19. FilmVandaag.nl