When we had an exchange student, they were forbidden to drive.
But anyway, Sophie drove no problem even though she would be used to driving on the other side of the road (if she even had a license)
yeah, I noticed that too -- she hadn't an instant's hesitation. I've done it, and it takes some getting used to
shareWe can guess that Lauren let her drive the car once or twice previously. And some people take to the opposite-side driving very naturally (my ex-wife did, for instance, on our honeymoon in the UK). Add that together, and maybe Sophie asked to drive the car precisely because she suspected it might be surprisingly easy to switch sides.
The bigger apparent plot hole is that a pianist of Sophie's skill and background would not be taking lessons from someone like Keith, whose primary instrument is the cello. However, it's implied that Sophie is burnt out on the piano, and that going to America as an exchange student is a way of trying to rekindle her desire to play. In that case, taking low-key group lessons rather than intense private ones might have been seen as a way to help that.
I always say: if you can explain something, and including the explanation in the movie would not add anything to it, it's not a plot hole.
Prepare your minds for a new scale of physical, scientific values, gentlemen.share
The truth is that no one struggles much with driving on the opposite side of the road. It's easy after the first two or three minutes. the driving test is much tougher in the UK and though you can take it in an automatic and get a partial licence, young european drivers all learn in stick shifts. Just try not to start inches middle of Paris or Rome.
Sophie's hesitation is a plot keystone, not a plot hole. She was hoping to improve her cultural environment by moving from Berkshire to New York but not only ends up in the same suburban desert, she ends up in a family where culture and music making are seen as weakness. So she chooses not to expose her talent to that desiccating household. Then she sees Exley's character allowing to guy struggling with Beethoven to have some fun with jazz and realises he will be a good fit for what she is missing most and also discovers that local boys her age aren't going to help her get closer to her goal.
And why does everyone say it doesn't have a happy ending?
The family are having a good time having photos taken, the wife in charge of the detail still, but the husband has been renewed and is back at the head of the household and they're all going to live a significantly better life transplanted into a more dynamic community where momma can find a better hobby than collecting cookie jars.
Even Sophie, presumably back in England, now has learnt she will have to make more careful choices, take responsibility for managing her talent and find people who can do more for her than provide emotional crutches.
It may be more like Chekov than Austen, but I don't see how this isn't a happy ending.
And also she knew where she was going
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