Two years after the death of his wife, theatre actor and director Yusuke is still struggling to come to terms with the loss. He accepts an offer to direct Uncle Vanya at a theatre festival in Hiroshima and decides to drive there in his cherished red Saab 900. The car has always provided a relaxing space for Yusuke, in which he listens to tapes of the latest play he is rehearsing.

But on arrival at his destination, Yusuke discovers that to comply with the festival’s strict rules, he must use a chauffeur during the production. He reluctantly agrees to a reserved young, woman called Misaki driving his car …

Having first introduced Irish audiences to Ryusuke Hamaguchi at JFF17 with his masterpiece Happy Hour, it is a great pleasure to be able to present the Irish premiere and additional previews of his latest film, the Cannes-winning Drive My Car. Inspired by a Haruki Murakami short story and featuring a Japanese performance of Beckett’s Waiting For Godot in its early scenes, this latest work from the talented director already has plenty to entice.

But it is Hamaguchi’s ability to explore the complexity of human relationships with an intimate fluidity and emotional honesty that results in a compelling and moving experience for the viewer. Not to be missed!

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