Japanese drama film Drive My Car has become the first Japanese movie to ever be nominated as Best Picture in Oscars. The film’s director, Ryusuke Hamaguchi, has also been recognized with a nomination for the Best Director category.
Drive My Car is a film co-written and directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi that is based on a short story of acclaimed Japanese author Haruki Murakami. The drama has also been nominated for International feature Film and Best Adapted Screenplay. Drive My Car totaled four nominations which ties in with Akira Kurusowa’s Ran in being the most-nominated film from Japan.
It is a history-making moment for Hamaguchi for his film’s nomination, and for being the third Japanese filmmaker to be nominated in the Best Director category. There haven’t been any Japanese films ever to receive a Best Picture nomination in Oscars, making Drive My Car a first.
Along with the film’s success, it has won awards like Best Foreign Language Film at the Golden Globes and three awards at Cannes, including Best Screenplay. It has also been selected to compete for the Palme d’Or at Cannes. Drive My Car is proclaimed best film of the year by the three major U.S. critics groups (New York Film Critics Circle, Los Angeles and Toronto Film Critics Association).
The three-hour film tells the story of a stage actor and director Yusuke Kafuku (Hidetoshi Nishjima), who is happily married to Oto (Reika Kirishima), a playwright. However, when Oto dies, Kafuku comes across a secret she has left behind.
Unable to cope with her loss, Kafuku was offered to direct Chekov’s 1898 play, Uncle Vanya, at a theater festival in Hiroshima. He meets young taciturn Misaki (Toko Miura), who becomes his chauffeur/driver. As they spend their time together on long rides, Kafuku gradually confronts his wife’s secrets and somehow achieves his peace.
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