This film is the directorial debut for Jeremy Brock. He is best known for writing the screenplays for the amazing Mrs Brown (1997) and Charlotte Gray (2001), and is also the co-creator of TV's medical drama Casualty. He has written this story in parts autobiographically, though most of it is fictional. But like the boy here he is a vicar's son, and as an adolescent he worked for the legendary actress Dame Peggy Ashcroft. So in that way it is his journey from shyness to self-confidence, and what a successful journey it has been.

It's 17-year-old Ben's (Rupert Grints) school holidays and he should be out having fun. But his absurdly repressed and conservative household doesn't allow for frivolity. So he spends his time helping out at the old people's home and attending Bible lessons, with the odd driving lesson squeezed in from his tiresome controlling mother Laura (Laura Linney). She dominates the weird family and overpowers her vicar husband Robert (Nicholas Farrell), who has turned in on himself. She is also the very worst kind of do-gooder. So Ben decides to get a job, and applies for one advertised in the stuffy parish magazine "Hello Jesus". He trundles up to a wonderfully shambolic house full of interesting treasures, owned by retired actress Evie (Julie Waters).

Once hired Ben enters a bizarre world of melodrama at once funny and sad. The most unconventional Evie is determined to liven up her life and Ben finds himself unintentionally camping and attending the Edinburgh festival. But the adventures he has with her give him a sense of freedom and purpose making him re-evaluate his future.

I am not entirely sure why this character piece is called Driving Lessons. It has very little to do with the story - surely they could have come up with something a little more inspired. But that is a small angst against an otherwise delightful rites of passage film. All the acting as one would expect from such a distinguished cast is of the highest quality, with young Grint really shining and showing real comic time. He has the most brilliant face for Ben, and has really nailed the wide-eyed baffled look of astonishment.

The pace lulls you along and allows one to become intimately involved with wildly eccentric Evie and Ben; and the direction perfectly captures that sweet but gauche moment between adult and childhood, where one is desperate to appear cool, but some how manages to look the exact opposite. The relationship is so funny and tender your heart will bleed for them both. Particularly as Ben tries valiantly to do the right thing as their roles reverse. I have met one or two treasures in my life like Evie, and it has been all the richer for it. This would have made a fantastic Sunday night TV comedy drama, but I am not sure it is quite right for the big screen, though I still highly recommend it. 7/10