A Study Guide for Alfred Uhry's "Driving Miss Daisy (film entry)"

Driving Miss Daisy (film entry)

Alfred Uhry

1989

Introduction

Driving Miss Daisy is a 1989 film that spans twenty-five years in the life of Daisy Werthan, who is seventy-two years old when the film begins. The film documents her relationships with her black chauffeur and with her son and his wife. Driving Miss Daisy is based on the play of the same name by Alfred Uhry, who also wrote the screenplay for the film. Morgan Freeman stars as the black chauffeur, Hoke. He is the one original stage actor who made the move from play to film. Jessica Tandy stars as Daisy, and Dan Aykroyd plays Daisy's son, Boolie. In the play there are only three characters—Daisy, Hoke, and Boolie. In the play, most of the action takes place offstage and is recounted by the three actors who converse onstage. There is no car prop, and all driving is portrayed via two stools placed on the stage. The film Driving Miss Daisy, to the contrary, actually brings to life the world in which Daisy and Hoke live.

The themes in Driving Miss Daisy focus on racism and segregation, discrimination, aging, friendship, and trust. The time frame, which spans the years between 1948 and 1973, includes the pivotal years in the civil rights movement. The social, political, and cultural changes that occurred during that time period are depicted in the film. The setting for the play and film is Atlanta, Georgia. Filming took place in Atlanta and in Decatur, Georgia.

Film Technique

Beresford uses close-up camera shots in several scenes as a way to depict what people are thinking but not actually saying. The dialogue often provides one idea, while the actor's face tells a different story or a story in more depth. The looks in Hoke's eyes, as well as those in Daisy's eyes or on Boolie's face at key points, are important strengths of the film and of the actors' performances. Initially Daisy looks at Hoke with irritation at having this man in her home. She is also resentful at having to rely on him to drive her. She conveys these emotions on her face and without speech, emotions that the closeup camera shots convey. In one early scene she walks down the street while Hoke drives along beside her. Daisy's smile to her watching neighbors is tightly pleasant, but quickly turns to irritation when she glances at Hoke, whom Daisy thinks is embarrassing her.

The close-up camera shot is also used when Boolie tries to convince his mother that she cannot drive any longer. She is so resistant that she