Driving Lessons

Seventeen-year-old Ben Marshall lives under his mother Laura's strict religious control. Laura forbids him from owning a mobile phone and uses his driving lessons to ferry her to charitable duties and an affair with Peter. The emotional neglect and control leave Ben longing for connection with peers and a sense of autonomy.

Ben writes poems for Sarah, a girl he knows from church, hoping for a spark of romance. He reads her his latest 'Sarah Poem,' but she coldly rejects him and dismisses his feelings. The rejection deepens his isolation within the family and the church world.

Seeking money to care for Mr. Fincham, the mental patient Laura has adopted, Ben answers an ad by Dame Evie Walton and is hired as her companion. Evie, a faded alcoholic actress who once trained classically, instantly connects with him and offers him the job and transportation. The arrangement introduces Ben to an ally outside the family and a new, uneasy bond.

Laura persuades Ben to take a country drive rather than a camping trip, turning the outing into a test of obedience. At some point she swallows the car key, trapping him in the car and forcing him to follow her plan. The incident forces Ben to confront his lack of agency and the limits of Laura's control.

In the morning, Laura insists they drive to the Edinburgh International Book Festival where she has been invited to read poetry. The journey becomes a catalyst for Ben's awakening as he encounters Bryony, one of the young organizers, and experiences his first sexual encounter. The road trip also marks the beginning of Ben taking responsibility for his own life.

During the trip, Ben's encounter with Bryony intensifies his awareness of his own desires and his need to shape his future. The experience pushes him toward independence and a clearer sense of personal boundaries. It also plants the idea that he must stand up for himself beyond his mother's control.

Ben returns home and is interrogated by Laura, who suspects Evie has corrupted him. Evie visits, but Laura rebuffs her, deepening Ben's sense of conflict between loyalty to his caretaker and his own growing identity. The confrontation leaves him determined to break away from Laura's grip.

On a pageant day, Ben rebels by walking offstage and biking to Evie's house to seek her friendship and guidance. He and Evie reconnect, sharing a fragile bond formed outside Laura's control. Ben begins to feel empowered by choosing his own allies and path.

Evie arrives at the pageant and, portraying God, whips the crowd into a frenzy that draws Ben into the car park with her. Laura chases them and tries to weaponize the Bible against both of them, but Ben finally tells her to go away. The scene crystallizes the clash between Ben's newfound autonomy and Laura's fanatical control.

Laura is run over by Mr. Fincham, whose mental state has declined. In the hospital, Laura claims a near-death experience has made her a prophet and says God wants her to divorce Robert and run off with Peter, who then takes her to Cornwall to convalesce. The incident further shatters the family’s balance and pushes Ben toward a new life.

Ben encounters Sarah again, who condescendingly suggests the affair was God's will. He finally speaks his mind, telling Sarah to 'fuck off' and asserting his own voice. The rebuke marks a turning point in his willingness to challenge the judgments of his past circle.

On Evie's advice, Ben buys a tent and moves into the backyard, signaling a deliberate step toward independence. Robert reveals he had asked Laura for divorce and explains his fidelity, leading to a tentative reconciliation with Ben. The two begin rebuilding their relationship with new boundaries and openness.

Ben decides to move to Edinburgh to study English at university, signaling a break from his family's turmoil. He reads Evie a last poem, who praises his growth and promises to stay in touch; he promises to visit whenever he's home from college. The film closes with Ben walking through the park, ready to start his new life in Edinburgh.