Driving Lesson

Ben lives under Laura's strict, religious control. His father Robert is a loving but distant vicar, while Laura demands obedience and isolates him from his peers. Ben channels his emotions into poems for Sarah, who remains unaware of his feelings.

Ben responds to Dame Evie Walton's ad seeking a companion. He sees it as a way to gain independence from his mother’s control. He begins the process that will lead him into Evie’s orbit.

Evie instantly connects with Ben and offers him the position. He starts driving her to appointments and helping around the house. The arrangement gives him a sense of purpose outside his family’s rules.

Laura refuses a camping trip and forces a country drive instead. At a secluded spot, she swallows the car key to keep Ben from leaving. Ben realizes his life is still being controlled by his mother, despite being away from home.

During the trip to the festival, Ben experiences his first intimate moment with Bryony, one of the organizers. The experience awakens him to his own desires and the responsibilities that come with them. He comes to see that he must choose his own path.

Ben returns from the trip to a tense confrontation with Laura, who accuses Evie of corrupting him. Evie visits soon after but is turned away by Laura. The exchange intensifies Ben’s resolve to chart his own life.

During the church pageant, Ben abandons his role and bikes to Evie’s house. The moment marks his break from Laura's control and a vow to stand up for himself. He and Evie begin to repair their bond.

Evie arrives at the pageant and, portraying God, incites a crowd to frenzy. Ben joins her in the car park, embracing a new, independent identity. Laura's pursuit intensifies as she tries to claim control once more.

Laura is run over by Mr. Fincham as the chaos escalates, landing in hospital. The accident deepens the family rifts and leaves Ben facing the consequences of the adults’ fanaticism. Ben’s concern shifts from escape to responsibility.

In hospital, Laura believes she has a near-death experience and proclaims herself a prophet. She resolves to divorce Robert and run off with Peter, who is headed to Cornwall. The twist forces Ben to confront the fragility of religious certainty.

On Evie’s advice, Ben buys a tent and moves into the backyard to assert his independence. Robert tries to talk to him, but Ben pushes back, insisting that he must choose his own path. The moment begins a tentative healing of the father-son bond.

Robert reveals that he did ask Laura for a divorce and explains his faithfulness. The honesty diffuses the tension and helps Ben reconnect with his father. They start rebuilding their relationship on new terms.

Ben tells Evie he is moving to Edinburgh to study English, stepping toward a new future. He reads a final poem to Evie, thanking her for friendship and promising to visit. The film ends with him walking through a park, ready to pack for Edinburgh.