Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- melancholic
- sincere
- reflective evening
- quiet weekend
What critics said
Critics broadly find the film modest but warm, with its predictable story elevated by the strong performances of Patricia Clarkson and Ben Kingsley.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Wendy's inability to drive independently becomes a concrete measure of her dependence and recovery after separation.
Wendy and Darwan's lessons bring a New York writer into sustained contact with Darwan's Sikh Indian identity and arranged-marriage expectations.
Wendy confronts divorce while Darwan contemplates marrying a woman he has never met.
Driving lessons, taxis, and Wendy's life as a New York book critic turn the city into the setting for private emotional change.
Films like Learning to Drive, and why
Enough Said
shared themes of marital upheaval, emotional recovery, and intimate character-driven drama
The Holiday
shared cross-cultural romance, gentle humor, and mature emotional relationships
Lost in Translation
shared focus on loneliness, unexpected companionship, and restrained bittersweet comedy
Movie Details
- Director
- Isabel Coixet
- Release Date
- 2014-08-21
- Runtime
- 105 min
- Rating
- 6.2 / 10 (212)
Cast
- Patricia Clarkson
- Ben Kingsley
- Jake Weber
- Sarita Choudhury
- Grace Gummer
- Avi Nash
- Samantha Bee
- Matt Salinger
- John Hodgman
- Michael Mantell
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling, Spectrum On Demand
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Learning to Drive about?
- After her marriage collapses, a dependent New York critic learns to drive and discovers unexpected companionship with her Sikh instructor.
- What is Learning to Drive like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Learning to Drive as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Learning to Drive violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Learning to Drive.
- What did critics think of Learning to Drive?
- Critics broadly find the film modest but warm, with its predictable story elevated by the strong performances of Patricia Clarkson and Ben Kingsley.
- Which films are like Learning to Drive?
- Films with a similar feel include Enough Said, The Holiday, and Lost in Translation.
- How long is Learning to Drive?
- Learning to Drive runs 105 minutes.
- Where can I watch Learning to Drive?
- In United States, Learning to Drive streams on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel.
