“Driveways” Review
"Driveways" is a nuanced portrait of an Asian American family, touching on themes of loss, growth, and belonging.

The victory of the fascist army in the Spanish civil war caused a mass exodus of republicans who had to take refuge wherever they could. Mexico, led by its president, Lázaro Cárdenas, was the only country that openly supported the republican cause and opened its doors to thousands of Catalans who found their second homeland in that land. This documentary aims to be a tribute to all the exiles and the people who welcomed them. "Mexico, you have opened your doors and your hands to the wanderer, the wounded, the exiled, the hero..." Pablo Neruda.
"Driveways" is a nuanced portrait of an Asian American family, touching on themes of loss, growth, and belonging.
As noted in the headline, I didn’t like this movie. Not to say it’s the worst thing ever, but it’s just…meh. Nothing much to it. Very generic. No surprises. At the very least, the cast is diverse so I’ll give it that.
Strangers in a crowd, exchanging glances, looking away, continually managing to run into each other then part ways, end up at the same diner, find they've rented the exact same vehicles, and are then made to travel together to learn once more whether they can both find genuine adoration and companionship again. This really does, in so many words, sum up the foundational gist of of this new feature film from writer Seth Reiss ("The Menu") and director Kogonada ("The Acolyte", "After Yang"). Yet, it's all only the set-up for the REAL wonder of everything that happens before, during, and in the aftermath of a magical, meaningful journey.
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The Olivia Wilde renaissance is upon us.