Directed by Isabel Coixet and written by Sarah Kernochan based on a New Yorker article by Katha Pollitt,[2] the film stars Patricia Clarkson as Wendy, a successful book critic[3] taking driving lessons with instructor Darwan (Ben Kingsley) after the breakup of her marriage to Ted (Jake Weber) forces her to become more self-sufficient.

Through a series of events, Wendy becomes Darwan's driving student, developing a close friendship in the process, as he is an intellectual and was a teacher back in India.

He replies with a definitive no and she tells him: “you are a good man.” Wendy passes her next license driving test and Darwan helps her buy a new car.

She smiles with a sense of relief and he puts his hand on her face and his head on her shoulder, the pair both looking happy for the first time since their wedding day.

The site's consensus states: "The story's a bit predictable, but Learning to Drive is elevated by typically strong work from stars Patricia Clarkson and Ben Kingsley.