Directed by David Lynch and written by John Roach and Mary Sweeney, a retired farmer and widower in his seventies named Alvin Straight learns one day that his distant brother Lyle has suffered a stroke and may not recover. Alvin is determined to make things right with Lyle while he still can, but his brother lives in Wisconsin, while Alvin is stuck in Iowa with no car and no driver’s license. He then has the idea of making the trip on his old lawnmower. Starring: Richard Farnsworth, Sissy Spacek, Jane Galloway Heitz, Joseph A. Carpenter and Donald Wiegert.
Considering The Straight Story was released in-between Lost Highway and Mulholland Drive, and looking at the rest of David Lynch’s features, it’s certainly an anomaly that proves his range as a director. Stepping away from the obscure, niche and mysterious, to make something so utterly wholesome and grounded was an unexpected move but one any film fan should be thankful for. This film is just ridiculously sweet, without being saccharine at all, it’s honest and emotional, and genuinely very moving and uplifting.
With The Straight Story Lynch captures not only a touching journey in search of reconciliation, demonstrating an unbelievable level of commitment, he also embodies what it means to find life’s little pleasures. To meet new people, to have unexpected encounters, to connect and enjoy life. It’s a truly beautiful thing and is filled with compassion and generosity, and simple common decency. It portrays everything that we need more of today: to think of others, to make an effort, to not let old grudges stand in the way of friends and family. It’s such a great story and being based on real events makes that sincerity hit even harder.
Although, it cannot be denied that a lot of the charm of The Straight Story comes from the wonderful performance from Richard Farnsworth. It’s tricky to adequately put into words the quality of his portrayal of Alvin and how deeply moving it is. One element which stands out strongly is his emotional openness, his willingness to talk about difficult memories and being in touch with his emotions is something you rarely see portrayed in elderly male characters. Especially since this film was made in the 1990s, it remains refreshing to see over twenty years later.
Another element that makes his performance even more touching, is the relationship that Alvin has with his daughter, Rose played by Sissy Spacek. Their connection, support and trust in one another warms your heart. There’s then a fantastic ensemble behind them, every character that Alvin comes across on his journey is another great addition. They aren’t an eclectic bunch or quirky personalities, they’re normal, everyday people, and they have such humble, simple interactions that are surprisingly compelling to watch.
Something that’s undoubtedly aided by the fantastic cinematography (by Freddie Francis), which was only further improved by the 4K restoration work done a few years ago. It embeds in the visual an appreciation for nature, especially through Alvin’s love of thunderstorms. They sincerely make the most of every landscape Alvin rides through, and along with Lynch’s direction, it’s perfectly matched to the earnest nature of the film and its resonating depth.
The Straight Story may be slowly approaching its thirtieth anniversary, but it is every bit as powerful and necessary as the day it was released. This is the type of cinema we always need more of, genuine, honest examples of the goodness in people. It’s an exploration of how meaningful it can be to make even the slightest effort, to think of other people first and to care, or to take a moment to check on someone, even when you don’t know them. It’s so well made, Richard Farnsworth is phenomenal and it’s possibly one of the most heart-warming films ever made, which is such a delightful oddity coming from a filmmaker like David Lynch whose name is synonymous with the obscure and strange.
FilmCarnage.com 