Driveways (2019) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Driveways is set in a quiet residential neighborhood in Upstate New York, a setting known for its serene suburban lifestyle. The story centers around a cluttered house that once belonged to Cody's late aunt April, as well as the surrounding community where neighbors gather. This sleepy, slow-paced environment shapes the film's contemplative tone and creates the space for the quiet, observational storytelling that defines the movie.

• upstate new york
• residential area
• setting
• neighborhood

The Upstate New York setting in Driveways establishes a calm, isolated atmosphere that mirrors the emotional state of its characters. The quiet suburban streets and modest homes create a sense of stillness that allows the unlikely friendship between Cody and Del to develop naturally. This peaceful backdrop also highlights the contrast between the characters' inner turmoil and the unchanging, sleepy world around them.

• upstate new york
• suburban
• atmosphere
• isolation

The Veterans of Foreign Wars lodge in Driveways serves as a social hub for the neighborhood, where residents and local veterans come together. It is a place that showcases the importance of community and camaraderie among older generations, particularly for Del, who is a veteran himself. The lodge reinforces the film's themes of connection and the comfort found in shared experiences.

• vfw
• veterans of foreign wars
• lodge
• community
• veterans

Driveways unfolds in contemporary times, with no specific year referenced in the narrative. The story spans a single summer, using the long, unhurried days of the season to mirror the deliberate pacing of the film. Modern societal themes like grief, family obligation, and aging are explored through the characters' experiences during this ordinary stretch of time.

• contemporary
• summer
• modern
• time period

Driveways explores three central themes: connection, loss, and home. The theme of connection focuses on the cross-generational bond between Cody and Del, who find solace in each other's company despite their differences. Loss permeates the story as both Kathy and Del grieve the absence of loved ones, while the concept of home evolves from a physical space into something defined by relationships and emotional belonging.

• themes
• connection
• loss
• home
• meaning

In Driveways, home evolves from a physical location into something far more meaningful, defined by the relationships people build with one another. As Kathy and Cody clean out April's cluttered house, the space transforms from a reminder of grief into a possible fresh start. The film ultimately suggests that home is less about the building itself and more about the love, memory, and companionship that take root there.

• home
• belonging
• family
• transformation

Driveways treats loss as a quiet, ongoing presence rather than a dramatic event. Kathy confronts grief while sorting through her late sister April's belongings, while Del reflects on his life after the death of his partner. The film shows grief not as something to be resolved quickly but as a weight that reshapes identity, softens emotional walls, and opens the door to new forms of connection.

• loss
• grief
• death
• mourning
• emotional

Del, played by Brian Dennehy, is a lonely elderly widower and veteran who lives next door to Cody and his mother. Initially grumpy and isolated, he gradually finds purpose and joy through his unexpected friendship with the young boy. Del serves as a mentor figure whose reflections on his past add emotional depth to Driveways, embodying resilience and the value of intergenerational relationships.

• del
• brian dennehy
• widower
• veteran
• neighbor
• mentor

Cody is an eight-year-old boy, played by Lucas Jaye, who moves to a new neighborhood for the summer with his mother Kathy. Sensitive and curious, he struggles to connect with the local children and feels the ache of childhood loneliness. His friendship with Del becomes a turning point, helping him learn to navigate complex emotions and find comfort in an unlikely companion.

• cody
• lucas jaye
• boy
• childhood
• loneliness
• friendship

Kathy, played by Hong Chau, is Cody's strong and determined mother who is coping with the loss of her sister April. She travels to the family home to clean out April's hoarder-like house, a task that forces her to confront her own emotional barriers. Over the course of Driveways, Kathy softens and opens herself up to new possibilities, shaped by the bonds formed in the neighborhood.

• kathy
• hong chau
• mother
• sister
• grief
• hoarder house

An unlikely, cross-generational friendship blossoms between Cody and Del in Driveways, built on shared loneliness and mutual understanding. Del becomes a quiet mentor to Cody, offering wisdom and steady companionship that the boy cannot find among peers. In turn, Cody's presence brings Del joy, laughter, and a renewed sense of purpose during the final stretch of his life.

• cody
• del
• friendship
• intergenerational
• bond
• mentor

Driveways carries a bittersweet, contemplative tone that balances warmth with quiet sadness. The pacing mirrors a long, lazy summer, with lingering porch conversations and small acts of kindness rather than dramatic conflict. Beneath the grief over Del's eventual departure and the earlier death of Aunt April, the film maintains a hopeful undertone because the central relationship gives both characters comfort and meaning.

• tone
• bittersweet
• contemplative
• hopeful
• pacing
• gentle