Drive-Away Dolls

A lesbian road movie that embraces queer liberation and highlights the violence underpinning respectability politics.

Left to right: Marian (Geraldine Viswanathan) and Jamie (Margaret Qualley) investigate the contents of a mysterious suitcase in Drive-Away Dolls (Universal).

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This post is part of the ‘One Take’ weekly series analysing the politics of a film currently showing at the cinemas.

Content warning: Domestic violence.

Note: Given that, at time of writing, Drive-Away Dolls is still showing in UK cinemas, this analysis only lays out as much of the film’s scenario as is necessary so as to avoid spoilers. It is therefore suitable to be read either before or after watching the film, while hopefully still enriching the viewer’s appreciation of it either way.