Driving Lessons

Seventeen-year-old Ben is a sensitive, observant boy whose life is tightly controlled by his mother. He is pulled into driving rounds to shuttle his mother’s affairs and spends time writing poems for Sarah, revealing a longing for connection. The Edinburgh trip and Evie’s friendship spark his first real steps toward responsibility and self-assertion.

Ben's mother, a vicar driven by strict religious beliefs who uses her son to ferry her around and to shield herself from emotional needs at home. Her constant control—refusing a mobile phone and orchestrating Ben's movements—creates a tense, stifling atmosphere. Her crisis point arrives as her beliefs clash with reality and love.

A Dame who has fallen from the heights of her acting career and now hires Ben as a house companion. She brings warmth, wit, and a disruptive, liberating energy to Ben's life, becoming both mentor and catalyst for his growth. Her free-spirited demeanor challenges Ben to rethink authority and loyalty.

A young curate who carries an affair with Laura and becomes a flashpoint for the family’s turmoil. His presence destabilizes the household and pushes Ben toward a act of rebellion, highlighting the fragility of relationships built on secrecy.

A girl from church who receives Ben's poems but ultimately rejects him, her condescending attitude puncturing his illusions of romance. She embodies the social confines and skepticism that Ben momentarily tries to push past.

One of the young women organizing the festival in Edinburgh with whom Ben shares a moment of intimacy. Her presence marks a turning point in Ben's sexual and emotional awakening and emphasizes the real-world consequences of his choices.

The mental patient Laura has adopted; Ben's relationship with him underscores the family's fragile balance and the human costs of Laura's control. Fincham's decline and the care he requires reflect broader themes of vulnerability and responsibility.

The instructor who teaches Ben the practical skills of driving, serving as a steady, practical counterpoint to the emotional turbulence at home. Through this role, Ben learns discipline and gains a sense of independence.