Idealism meets Practicality

Rating: 7/10 (10 March 2019)

This is a tale of a working-class Italian American driver - Tony (played by Viggo Mortensen), hired by a celebrated African-American pianist - Don,played Mahershala Ali. Tony is seen to be prejudiced and politically incorrect while Don seeks to refine his language and behavior, projecting his superiority. But both men have something to teach each other, as Tony tries to chip away Don's quixotic nature, which is a poor and potentially fatal fit for the Apartheid system of the South in the 1960s. Particularly memorable is a brief scene of Don, in his suit, staring out at the plantation filled with African American workers.
Tony and Don get through many problems, some of them self-inflicted. They solve the problems in their own ways, although Don keeps emphasising his idealist spirit while Tony prefers to solve his problems in a quick and dirty way.
By Christmas, the pair return back to New York, after their experiences have changed them. Despite all his wealth, Don is often lonely while Tony is willing to welcome him like a brother, overcoming his past prejudices.