This film chronicles a 1994 long-distance road trip made by 73-year-old Alvin Straight from Laurens, Iowa, to Mt. Zion, Wisconsin. Nothing unusual about that until you get to the punch line ... he traveled the whole route sitting astride a riding lawn mower. Alvin undertook his strange, slow and loud journey to mend his relationship with his ailing and estranged, 75-year-old brother, Lisle.
Perhaps even stranger than Alvin's journey is the fact that this film is directed by the man who turned weird and bizarre behavior into must-see TV with his Twin Peaks series as well as directing the films
Blue Velvet and
Wild at Heart. Sure, Alvin's behavior is a little weird, but there's not going to be the Lynchian trademarks we've come to expect -- things like severed ears, kinky sex and a log with a message.
(Brings to mind the old joke: Did you hear about the farmer whose wife left him? -- beat -- Neither did he until he got his John Deere letter.)
The Straight Story is about the culmination of one man`s life and process. He has learned something from the difficulties and mistakes of his life and begins to see what really matters. He choses to guide his life differently at least in his later years. The movie speaks to all of us about growth beyond our conditioned and identified selves into the self that is beyond this world and beyond mere words.
The cinematography is magnificent, the movie`s soundtrack goes right to the heart, and the acting by Richard Farnsworth and Sissy Spacek are truly Oscar worthy. The supporting actors in the movie give straightforward, "salt of the earth" performances. This is, perhaps, the most perfect movie that I have seen. David Lynch did an outstanding job in his direction of this movie in showing what really matters in life are those people that we call family
a very moving story, clean cut and free from sex,violence and smut. a joy to watch . but sorry about richard farnsworths death in real life. all actors were great.