Driving Madeleine
Driving Madeleine (French: Une belle course) is a 2022 French-Belgian comedy-drama film directed by Christian Carion.[1] The story follows Charles, a struggling Parisian taxi driver played by Dany Boon, who picks up 92-year-old Madeleine, portrayed by Line Renaud, for a ride across the city to her new retirement home; as they detour through significant locations from her past, she shares her life story, offering unexpected solace to his troubled existence.[2][3] Written by Christian Carion and Cyril Gely, the film explores themes of friendship, resilience, and reflection through the evolving bond between its leads, blending heartfelt dialogue with scenic views of Paris.[1] It was released in France on September 21, 2022,[4] and received a limited U.S. theatrical release on January 12, 2024, distributed by Cohen Media Group.[2] The movie has been praised for its emotional depth and the chemistry between Boon and Renaud, earning a 94% critics' approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 52 reviews, with audiences similarly rating it at 92%.[2]Plot and cast
Plot summary
Driving Madeleine centers on 92-year-old Madeleine, who hires Parisian taxi driver Charles to transport her from her longtime home to a retirement home on the opposite side of the city.[2] Rather than taking a straightforward path, Madeleine insists on detours to revisit key sites from her past, including her former residence, the location where she met her first love, and spots connected to her World War II experiences and family losses, transforming the ride into a poignant tour of her memories.[5][6] Throughout the journey, Madeleine opens up about her life's highs and lows—encompassing her youth, romantic entanglements, wartime ordeals, and enduring hardships—revealed through vivid flashbacks that interweave with the present action. These narratives highlight her remarkable resilience amid personal and historical challenges, such as fleeting romances during the occupation and subsequent family tragedies.[5][6] The 91-minute film structures its story around this road trip as a framing device, allowing the emotional arc to build gradually as Madeleine's tales resonate with Charles.[2] Struggling with mounting debts, familial estrangements, and a deepening sense of hopelessness, Charles initially remains detached but gradually forms a profound connection with Madeleine, her stories prompting him to confront his own despair and rediscover empathy.[8] This evolving bond underscores themes of shared humanity, offering both characters moments of catharsis amid the city's changing landscape.[9]Cast
The principal cast of Driving Madeleine includes Line Renaud as the 92-year-old protagonist Madeleine, Dany Boon as Charles the taxi driver facing a personal crisis, and Alice Isaaz as the young Madeleine.[10][11] Supporting actors feature Jérémie Laheurte as Ray, a key figure in Madeleine's past as her husband and a character tied to her post-WWII backstory; Gwendoline Hamon as Denise, Charles's ex-wife; Julie Delarme as Karine, a confidante to Charles; Thomas Alden as Mathieu, Charles's adult son who represents a source of familial tension for the driver; and Hadriel Roure as the young Mathieu.[10][12][13]| Actor | Character | Role Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Line Renaud | Madeleine | 92-year-old protagonist whose life journey frames the narrative |
| Dany Boon | Charles | Taxi driver navigating personal turmoil during a pivotal ride |
| Alice Isaaz | Young Madeleine | Portrays the lead character's earlier years in flashback sequences |
| Jérémie Laheurte | Ray | Madeleine's past husband, embodying challenges from her mid-20th-century experiences |
| Gwendoline Hamon | Denise | Charles's former spouse, linked to his ongoing family dynamics |
| Julie Delarme | Karine | Close friend and sounding board for Charles amid his difficulties |
| Thomas Alden | Mathieu | Charles's grown son, central to the driver's relational strains |
| Hadriel Roure | Young Mathieu | Younger version highlighting evolving family bonds |