Driving Miss Daisy

Driving Miss Daisy

Year: 1989

Runtime: 99 min

Language: English

Director: Bruce Beresford

DramaComedy

In Atlanta, elderly widow Daisy Werthan's life takes an unexpected turn after a car accident. Unable to drive, she reluctantly hires Hoke Colburn, an African-American man, as her chauffeur. Over two decades, a touching and unlikely friendship blossoms between them, challenging racial prejudices and societal expectations as they share life's experiences and create a bond that transcends differences.

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Driving Miss Daisy (1989) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

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In post‑war Atlanta, a bustling Southern city still humming with the promise of change, an elderly widow named Daisy Werthan finds her carefully ordered world upended after a modest car accident leaves her unable to drive. The accident forces her son to arrange a practical solution: a black chauffeur hired to navigate the streets that have long been hers alone. Reluctant and proud, Daisy initially resists surrendering control of the wheel, viewing the arrangement as an unwelcome intrusion into her private routine.

Enter Hoke Colburn, a seasoned driver whose calm demeanor and measured patience clash with Daisy’s sharp wit and lingering prejudices. Their daily journeys across the city become a quiet stage on which etiquette, class, and race are negotiated in soft, often humorous exchanges. The film’s tone balances gentle humor with a tender melancholy, allowing moments of levity to sit beside the underlying currents of a society in transition. Through their interactions, the audience catches glimpses of a world where old‑world values meet the stir of a new era, and where an unlikely companionship promises to reshape both lives.

As the years stretch forward, the relationship between Daisy and Hoke hints at a deeper, unspoken bond that transcends the simple employer‑employee dynamic. Their shared rides become a conduit for learning, reflection, and quiet rebellion against the expectations that surround them. The story invites viewers to wonder how two very different people might discover common ground, offering a warm, character‑driven portrait of companionship that blossoms in the most unexpected of circumstances.

Last Updated: August 10, 2025 at 13:37

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Driving Miss Daisy Summary

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Driving Miss Daisy Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Driving Miss Daisy

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Driving Miss Daisy

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