Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Haruki Murakami adaptation “Drive My Car” has been a red hot awards season favorite ever since it debuted at Cannes and won three top prizes there. The film, besides collecting a clutch of awards around the world, is up for four Oscars and three BAFTAs. Eve Gabereau, a stalwart of the U.K./Ireland independent distribution scene, who co-founded and ran leading distribution company Soda Pictures for 15 years and founded Modern Films, shares the film’s journey with Variety.
I first saw “Drive My Car” in competition at Cannes in July 2021. I knew about it beforehand because I have worked closely with the sales agency The Match Factory over the years and follow all their films. I am also a Japanophile and an avid Murakami fan so this seemed a natural fit for Modern Films, even before I saw it. Even so, I was totally blown away by it and overwhelmed…
