Clarkson -- wonderful -- remains one of the least sung and most skilled of America's thinking screen divas.

Clarkson, in particular, is spot-on; her character unfolds gradually into the serenity that comes with hard-earned self-sufficiency. And the gentle, low-key humour belies some spiky observations about multicultural America.

This is a low key but witty and often affecting film with excellent performances from Clarkson and Kingsley.

I believe Learning to Drive, for a thoughtful adult audience, could be a lead-in to a wonderful conversation about attitudes toward life, especially in the face of loss.