Driving Madeleine

A modern-day Charon takes his victim/customer to the underworld; or, rather, a cabby drives an old woman across Paris from her apartment to an old people’s home. They strike up a deep friendship, ending with the woman – who dies that night – bequeathing the money the cabby needs to help his family.

The Holdovers

A modern-day Scrooge is forced to look after an unpleasantly unhappy young man over Christmas. They strike up a deep friendship.

A superannuated classics teacher ends up being eased out of his job.

How they are related

Both describe an arc of personal relations moving from tension to warmth and affection. They’re also both about affirming family life.