Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s film “Drive My Car” scene by scene
Thank you to everyone who viewed my “Drive My Car” work in progress here, on my Montaigne Project website and on my Authory page. Some bad news: I have removed most of my work-in-progress essays from public websites. These essays formed the basis of material that ended up in my book. In several cases, completed…
The movie cuts to a sunrise over Hiroshima. It’s a beautiful palate that matches the previous scene, filled with shades of blue and orange. And before we can think to ask what comes next, we hear Kafuku’s voice as Vanya: “I refuse! Wait, I’m not done yet!” And then we enter Vanya’s great self-pitying scene…
Now that the Takatsuki story line is complete, this is an apt moment to examine the strange relationship between Kafuku and his rival, and how their pairing — as well as Kafuku’s dynamic with Watari — play into his healing journey. There is very powerful Oedipal dynamic going on between Kafuku and Takatsuki. While Kafuku…