Driving Miss Daisy
1989 · Directed by Bruce Beresford
Original language: English
- drama
The story
The story of an old Jewish widow named Daisy Werthan and her relationship with her black chauffeur, Hoke. From an initial mere work relationship grew in 25 years a strong friendship between the two very different characters, in a time when those types of relationships were shunned.
What it’s like
Warm, low-key and quietly observant, this is a film of soft Southern daylight, sunlit kitchens, tree-lined Atlanta streets and the slow green of a Cadillac crossing town. The camera mostly sits back and lets scenes breathe in medium and wide shots, with long, unhurried takes of two people sharing a car, a meal or a silence, and the palette runs to cream, dusty gold and pastel interiors that feel gently faded, like a family photo album. The score is light and string-led, rarely intruding, so the mood is one of patient, gently humorous companionship with an undercurrent of unease about the segregated world outside the windows. Pacing is leisurely and conversational, and the emotional register is wry, tender and bittersweet, with the arc of two stubborn people slowly and reluctantly softening toward one another across the years. Intensity is low: there is no violence or gore, and the tension comes from prejudice and social awkwardness rather than danger. It suits a rainy Sunday, a comfort rewatch or an afternoon with tea, and is for viewers who want something gentle, humane and character-driven, with a little history in the background.
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