It’s rare that our favorite film of the year actually receives love from the Academy, but there’s an exception as Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Drive My Car racked up four nominations: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best International Feature Film. The three-hour Murakami adaptation also features one of the best scores of the year, courtesy Eiko Ishibashi.

Hamaguchi also shared his 10 favorite films of 2021 (including some Kelly Reichardt catch-up with FILO via Word of Reel. Check it out below as Drive My Car expands.
∙ Benedetta
∙ Isabella
∙ Haruhara San’s Recorder
∙ Third Time Lucky
∙ Meek’s Cutoff (2010)
∙ Old Joy (2006)
∙ First Cow
∙ Undine
∙ Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn
∙ Memoria
Lastly, Hamaguchi recently took part in an hour-long webinar for JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles. Watch below.