Drive My Car has already begun to make history without the Oscars. Drive My Car is the first foreign-language film to be awarded Best Picture from the Los Angeles Film Critic Association, the New York Film Critics Circle, and the National Society of Film Critics. The only other films that have accomplished this are Goodfellas, Schindler’s List, L.A. Confidential, The Hurt Locker, and The Social Network. In earning such a rare honor, Drive My Car shouldn’t be counted out of any of its Oscar-nominated categories.

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Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Drive My Car draws inspiration from several of his own short stories from his 2014 collection, Men Without Women. The film is adapted from the short story of the same name, but includes aspects of several others including “Scheherazade.” Details of these stories are sprinkled into the narrative of Drive My Car and the mystery regarding some of its characters. As a story built around the marriage between Yūsuke (Hidetoshi Nishijima), who is a director and actor, and Oto (Reika Kirishima), a screenwriter, it is not difficult to include elements of other stories, but how Hamaguchi leads them to connect to Drive My Car’s larger narrative is quite impressive.

Drive My Car is an honest tale of guilt and grief that is conveyed through its focal character, Yūsuke. Early on, the relationship between Yūsuke and Oto appears less romantic and more transactional. There are many instances of their intimate unions that are typically initiated by Oto. Like the focal character in “Scheherazade,” Oto frequently tells Yūsuke stories that she has concocted during their sexual affairs. The morning after, Oto is usually unable to remember her stories and Yūsuke often repeats them back to her.

Yūsuke and Oto’s lives are altered once Yūsuke has a car accident that turns out to be a result of Glaucoma. The diagnosis impacts his ability to drive and as Glaucoma suggests, see clearly. Yūsuke’s vision is a symbolic piece of his development throughout Drive My Car. Yūsuke’s inability to drive his prized car also allows Hamaguchi to introduce the next pivotal piece of the film. After taking a job to direct a production of Uncle Vanya, Yūsuke is appointed a chauffeur in Misaki Watari (Tōko Miura). At first, their relationship is as distant as any relationship between a hired driver and a passenger is to be expected. Over time, Yūsuke and Misaki’s relationship develops into a deeper understanding of one another that allows them both to confront guilt-ridden events they have both tried to avoid.

Throughout Drive My Car, Yūsuke is constantly challenged to confront unfortunate things from his past. During his production of Uncle Vanya, he casts Kōji Takatsuki (Masaki Okada), who was briefly met earlier in the film. Their paths had previously crossed through Oto, who Kōji often worked with. She introduced the two in a professional capacity, though there is evidence that the relationship isn’t entirely professional. Against the warnings of others, Yūsuke casts Kōji in the focal role of Vanya.

Yūsuke isn’t the only one that must confront his past. Kōji has to face the repercussions of troublesome decisions he’s made and Misaki confides in Yūsuke about her own past. The confinement of Yūsuke’s car is the perfect setting for the developments of Drive My Car. Inside it, Yūsuke himself often listens to a tape of Oto reading the lines of all the characters in Uncle Vanya except for Vanya, which he recites himself. Misaki learns a lot about Yūsuke because of this, and her non-judgemental view of his routine eventually allows Yūsuke to open up to her.

Drive My Car is nominated for 4 Academy Awards at the 94th ceremony in the categories for Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best International Feature Film, and Best Picture. Drive My Car is opposed by the heavily nominated Dune and The Power of the Dog in 3 of those categories. History has shown that even if a film receives a high amount of nominations, they are not always the film taking home the most awards at the end of the night. Drive My Car could upset a few of the heavy favorites before the night is over.

Hamaguchi’s direction in the near 3-hour runtime for Drive My Car shouldn’t go unnoticed. While Jane Campion might be considered the favorite to take home the Oscar for Best Director, Drive My Car doesn’t lag for a moment in the nearly 3 hours it runs for. This is also a testament to Drive My Car’s writing, which should be acknowledged in the running for Best Adapted Screenplay. Drive My Car’s writing has earned several awards, including the award for Best Screenplay at the Cannes Film Festival. If this is any indication of what Drive My Car may take home by the end of the Academy Awards ceremony, the Japanese film can add Oscar winner to its growing list of accolades.

Drive My Car is now streaming on HBO Max.

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