Director Ryusuke Hamaguchi says “it’s a story that has been told many times before”, yet his sensitive and eloquent adaptation of Haruki Murakami's work is sweeping up awards around the world.

It was just two years ago that Bong Joon-ho's Parasite made history as the first non-English speaking film to win the Oscar for Best Picture, the Academy's most prestigious award.

Now, all eyes are on another Asian film, Drive My Car, which is fresh from winning Best Picture - Non-English Language (formerly Foreign Language) at the Golden Globes this month.  

Drive My Car, co-scripted and directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi, is an adaptation of a short story of the same title, written by world-renowned novelist Haruki Murakami, whose works are available in more than 50 languages.

Drive My Car, scripted and directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi

The film tells the story of Kafuku (played by Hideki Nishikawa), a successful stage director and actor, who while grappling with the sudden loss of his wife Oto, traces her secret through conversations with his driver, Misaki.

“It’s a story that has been told many times before,” Hamaguchi tells SBS Japanese.

Even if you lose something important, you must live on.

Hamaguchi points out that this "universality”, which he “addressed head on, with a cast from all over Asia”, is perhaps one of the major factors explaining why overseas audiences have reacted so positively to the film. 

Hamaguchi says he was “extremely surprised and happy” to win the Golden Globe and feels “honoured” to have his name written in history.

The last time a Japanese film won a Golden Globe was 62 years ago, when Kon Ichikawa’s Old Obsession won the Foreign Film-Foreign Language category. 

Drive My Car, which is sweeping the US critic’s prizes, also scooped best screenplay at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival, as well as the best feature at the 14th Asia Pacific Screen Awards, held on the Gold Coast last year.

Yusuke Kafuku (left) played by Hidetoshi Nishijima and Misaki Watari(right) played by Toko Miura© 2021 Culture Entertainment, Bitters End, Nekojarashi, Quaras, NIPPON SHUPPAN HANBAI, Bungeishunju, L’ESPACE VISION, C&I, The Asahi Shimbun Company

”Many of Murakami's works are disconnected from reality, and that's why they can be told and expressed (on screen)," says Hamaguchi. 

In particular, he fell in love with Drive My Car.

"I was drawn by the characters of Kafuku and Misaki, whose relationship gradually develops in the closed environment of a car." 

The two do not say much. But when they do, it's frank and honest.

“It was so important that I captured this without destroying (the original piece),” says Hamaguchi. "This (relationship) was one of the best parts of the original."

Although Hamaguchi was in constant contact with Murakami, from the plotting stage of the script to any edits made thereafter, the novelist said little.

Hamaguchi added his own elements and borrowed parts from Murakami’s other works, to develop a three-hour-long film from the short story - even if the yellow car of the original was replaced by a vintage red SAAB to "add to the cinematic experience". 

"I was glad to hear that Mr Murakami enjoyed the film," says Hamaguchi. 

While the Oscars nominations voting has began, and hopes are high in Japan, humble Hamaguchi simply hopes that the numerous awards he has won so far, and the publicity he has received, will mean more people have the chance to enjoy his film.

Nominations for the 94th Academy Awards, to be held on Sunday 27 March, will be announced on 8 February.

Drive My Car will hit cinemas in Australia from 10 February. For participating cinemas, click here.

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