Watch Driving Lessons

Driving Lessons tells the unique story of Ben Marshall (played by Rupert Grint who also starred in the Harry Potter movies) who is struggling to come of age despite his conservative Christian fundamentalist upbringing under the influence of his mother. Ben’s mother, Laura (Laura Linney), is very desperate to keep Ben away from “evil influences” by attempting to assert excessive control over Ben’s every move and keeps him busy by having him work and carry out some of her charitable acts such as Meals on Wheels. Ben develops an unlikely relationship with an actress named Dame Evie Walton (Julie Walters) when he is assigned to run errands for her and to help around her house. Driving Lessons tells the story of one young man’s becoming an adult and struggling to find his place in society. The story is very relatable and very realistically portrays the negative heavy laden influence that fundamentalism often has on children. It is about the struggle to overcome lifelong toxic influences and the fight for the right to live one’s own life and be one‘s own person.