“Driving Miss Daisy” is a moving drama that features superb acting and great characterizations. It takes its time to develop the plot but it never ceases to be interesting.

The film stars an 80-year-old stage actress named Jessica Tandy who plays Miss Daisy, a proud and obstinate Jewish lady.

Daisy refuses to admit any of her mistakes even when they are painfully obvious. She is hesitant to display any signs of weakness and she refuses to take any advice. It almost seems that Daisy’s iron facade helps her avoid coming to terms with her mortality.

Daisy proves to be a bit hypocritical about racism. She is unable to see any connection between the bombing of a Jewish temple and the racist activities of the Ku Klux Klan.

She doesn’t consider herself a racist yet she refuses to let her chauffeur accompany her to a Martin Luther King Jr. rally.

Morgan Freeman (“Street Smart” and “Glory”) also gives a marvelous performance. He plays Hoke Colburn; a likeable black chaffeur with a lot of common sense and charm. Throughout the film Hoke shows that he has a keen understanding of Daisy’s psychology.

Dan Aykroyd is surprisingly good playing Boolie, a henpecked son who is caught between the demands of his mother (Daisy) and his shallow wife.

The film was directed by Bruce Beresford. Beresford came from Australia but he’s displayed a genuine talent for depicting Southern life in such films as “Tender Mercies” and “Crimes of the Heart.” “Driving Miss Daisy” may be his best film yet. Its characters are unforgettable and its storyline is extremely engaging.