The Straight Story (1999)

Director:

David Lynch

Writers:

John Roach (written by) &
Mary Sweeney (written by)

Release Date:

3 November 1999 (France)

Genre:

Adventure | Biography | Drama

Plot:

An old man makes a long journey by tractor to mend his relationship with an ill brother.

Plot Keywords:

Lawn Mower | Iowa | Tractor | Priest | Hot Dog

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 12 wins & 28 nominations

Cast

Sissy Spacek	...	Rose
Jane Galloway Heitz	...	Dorothy
Joseph A. Carpenter	...	Bud
Donald Wiegert	...	Sig
Richard Farnsworth	...	Alvin
Tracey Maloney	...	Nurse
Dan Flannery	...	Doctor Gibbons
Jennifer Edwards-Hughes	...	Brenda
Ed Grennan	...	Pete
Jack Walsh	...	Apple
Max the Wonder Dog	...	Farm Dog
Gil Pearson	...	Bus Driver
Barbara June Patterson	...	Woman on Bus
Everett McGill	...	Tom the John Deere Dealer
Anastasia Webb	...	Crystal

Also Known As:

Une histoire vraie (France)

Runtime:

112 min

Country:

France | UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Italy:T | Iceland:L | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Canada:F (Ontario) | Canada:G (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Québec) | Canada:PG (Nova Scotia) | Chile:TE | Finland:S | France:U | Germany:o.Al. | Hong Kong:I | Ireland:G | New Zealand:G | Norway:A | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:All | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:U | USA:G

Filming Locations:

Clermont, Iowa, USA

Company:

Asymmetrical Productions

Trivia:

Filmed in sequence.

Goofs:

Continuity: In New Hampton (at the junction of US 18 and US 63), Alvin crosses West Hale Street before he approaches it.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Dorothy: Hi Rose.
Rose 'Rosie' Straight: Hi Dorothy.
Alvin Straight: [can be heard collapsing inside his house]

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 2000 IFP/West Independent Spirit Awards (2000) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Happy Times

A thoughtful film for thoughtful viewers.

Perhaps more than many films, this one is not for everyone. For some folks the idea of slowing down, reflecting and allowing things to happen in their own time is a good description of their personal hell. For others an approach like this speaks to some deep part of themselves they know exists, some part they long for contact with.

I suppose it's a function of where I am in my own life these days, but I count myself in the camp of the latter group. I found the meditative pace of this film almost hypnotic, gently guiding me into some realm almost mythological. This is indeed a journey story, a rich portrayal of the distance many of us must travel if we are to come full circle at the end of our days.

Much as been written of Mr Farnsworth's presentation of Alvin Straight, though I'm not sure there are words to express the exquisite balance of bemused sadness and wise innocence he conjured for us. Knowing now that he was indeed coming to terms with his own mortality as he sat on that tractor seat makes me wish I had had the opportunity to spend time with him before his departure. I hope he had a small glimmer of the satisfaction and truth he had brought to so many people, not just for "acting" but for sharing his absolute humanity with such brutal honesty.

Given the realities of production economics, I'm not sure full credit has been given Mr Lynch for the courage he showed in allowing the story to develop so slowly. An outsider to film production, I nonetheless understand there are few areas of modern life where the expression "time is money" is so accurately descriptive. Going deep into our hearts is not an adventure that can be rushed, and to his credit Mr Lynch seems to have understood that he was not simply telling a story--he was inviting his viewers to spend some time with their own mortality. No simple task, that.

If you'd like to experience the power of film to take introduce you to some precious part of yourself, you could do worse than spending a couple of hours with The Straight Story. And then giving yourself some time for the next little while simply listening to its echoes in the small hours of the night.