Drive My Car, Hamaguchi Ryusuke’s eighth feature film, follows the healing journey of theater director Kafuku and his assigned chauffeur Misaki during a theater festival. At the heart of this story is actor Nishijima Hidetoshi, who delivers a restrained and deeply moving performance as Kafuku—a man grappling with betrayal and loss. While rehearsing Uncle Vanya with a multinational cast, Kafuku forms new relationships and is gradually confronted with the emotions he had long buried within himself. Nishijima masterfully internalizes Kafuku’s subtle emotional shifts, quietly drawing the audience into the film. Through this nuanced portrayal, the film unfolds a profound journey of healing and recovery, moving through pain, regret, understanding, and ultimately, forgiveness. It is a definitive work that showcases Nishijima Hidetoshi’s delicate yet grounded performance at its finest.
Programme note by JO Ji-hoon
Stills5
Screenings2
Thu, 09/18
14:0017:25
Busan Cinema Center Cinematheque
018Guest Q&AKN, Korean subtitles + non-English dialogue, no English subtitles
Fri, 09/19
15:0018:00
LOTTE CINEMA Centum City 10
147KN, Korean subtitles + non-English dialogue, no English subtitles
Hamaguchi Ryusuke graduated from Tokyo University and the Graduate School of Tokyo University of the Arts. He began to draw major attention in Japan with his graduate film Passion (2008). He gained international acclaim with Happy Hour (2015), which won the Best Actress award at the Locarno Film Festival; Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy (2021), which won the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize at the Berlin International Film Festival; and Drive My Car (2021), which won the Best Screenplay award at the Cannes Film Festival and the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film. His new film, All of a Sudden, won the Best Actress award at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival.
From Busan International Film Festival 2025, No. 30
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