Since their creation in 1886, cars have been an object of desire and prestige. Above all, cars are symbols of mobility and freedom. A car can be both a place of safety and of violence, of private and public. With its societal context, cars have become a common theme in movies, though often portraying ideas of toxic masculinity. But when digging deeper into the history of film, you will meet a range of movies where cars hold a deeper meaning and involve women too.
SLEEK selects six movies with strong leads and hot wheels on MUBI.
Death Proof, 2007. Image Courtesy of MUBI.
Death Proof (2007)
Directed by Quentin Tarantino, “Death Proof” is an ode to the grindhouse genre and tells the story of stuntman Mike divided in two episodes. In each, he clings to a group of women in different cities with his death proof car just waiting to race the women to death. But with the second female friend group, a surprise awaits Mike since the women turn out to be stuntwomen too, and will not fall into Mike’s traps.
Between the countless car races, “Death Proof” is a movie about the conversations between friends, offering a story told from a female perspective.
Drive My Car, 2021. Image Courtesy of MUBI.
Drive My Car (2021)
“Drive My Car” by Ryusuke Hamaguchi is based on the same titled short story by Murakami, in which Yusuke Kafuku lost his wife who cheated on him shortly before her death and is assigned to direct a play two years after. For that time period, he is assigned a driver, young and broken Misaki. At first, the two don’t speak to one another. Over time however, they begin to develop a relationship of depth and intimacy. The movie is about language, communication and longing to be understood. Eventually, Musaki and Yusuke start a conversation as the car serves as a safe space while they talk about their losses, guilty feelings and what has caused them pain in life.
Drive, 2011. Image Courtesy of MUBI.
Drive (2011)
In Nicolas Winding Refn’s movie “Drive“, Ryan Gosling acts as a stunt driver by day and a hired getaway driver for robberies by night. His cold facade breaks when he falls in love with his neighbour Irene whose husband just got out of prison. After the husband convinces the driver to do a job for him, the unnamed driver quickly realises that someone hired an assassin on him. A movie with seemingly old-fashioned characters gets a modern touch with colours and language, picturing loneliness and creating a mystic mood with sparse conversations.
Maps to the Stars, 2014. Image Courtesy of MUBI.
Maps to the Stars (2014)
Director David Cronenberg goes to Hollywood to tell the story of the eccentric Weiss family. Father Stafford is a coach and healer, currently having the actress Havana as a patient, while mother Christina is managing the career of their son who is a child star actor, already earning millions but has also been to rehab. The family dynamics get interrupted as their disowned daughter, who set their house on fire, tries to return to their life as Havana’s personal assistant by flirting with their chauffeur. “Maps to the Stars” takes a satirical look at the glamorous Hollywood life without falling into typical cliches. WIth Cronenberg’s history in the horror genre, the movie gets an interesting twist.
Spring Breakers, 2012. Image Courtesy of MUBI.
Spring Breakers (2012)
Monster, 2003. Image Courtesy of MUBI.
Monster (2003)
Based on the true story of serial killer Aileen Wuornos, director Patty Jenkins places Charlize Theron as the main character to embody Wuornos in Monster, telling the story of how a young girl slowly had to let go of her dreams and needed to face the harsh reality of life. Losing her will to live and having to earn money from prostitution, she meets Selby one day, and falling in love with her seems like a stream of hope. But money remains a problem for Aileen, almost like a last burden before she can start her life over, so she then decides to hunt down all of her punters. Monster will be available on MUBI from beginning of March.
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