Directed by Walter Hill | United States | 91 mins
The Driver, The Detective, The Player, The Connection: The characters in Walter Hill’s neo-noir cult classic, The Driver, have no names. French minimalist Le Samourai stylings meet muscular American action in Hill’s atmospheric film, his biggest cult hit along with The Warriors. Ryan O Neal (Barry Lyndon) plays The Driver, all business and superhuman driving skill. Bruce Dern (Nebraska) is The Detective, a perverse bureaucrat obsessed with arresting the uncatchable “Cowboy” Driver. Isabelle Adjani (Possession) is The Player, a gambler with a film noir goddess past. The Connection (Nashville’s Ronee Blakley) organizes the schemes. Underseen at the time of its release, The Driver, with its influence on Quentin Tarantino, Baby Driver, and countless others is a legacy classic, combining dynamic existential tension with astonishingly choreographed chase sequences.
Rating: PG.
Part of our Summer of Car Chases Series.
In the spirit of respect, reciprocity and truth, we honour and acknowledge that this screening takes place on Moh’kinsstis and the traditional Treaty 7 territory, as well as the oral practices of the Blackfoot confederacy: Siksika, Kainai, Piikani as well as the Îyâxe Nakoda and Tsuut’ina nations. We acknowledge that this territory is home to the Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3 within the historical Northwest Métis homeland. Finally, we acknowledge all Nations, Indigenous and non, who live, work and play, as well as help steward this land, honour and celebrate this territory.