Showbits

In 1994, Alvin Straight received a phone call that his older brother had had a stroke. Alvin hadn't spoken to Lyle in ten years, and at 73 years old, Alvin figured he might not have another chance — but with bad hips, bad eyesight, no driver's license, and a limited budget, how was he to travel the 250 miles due east from Laurens, Iowa, to Mount Zion, Wisconsin? In the only vehicle he had: a 1966 John Deere riding lawnmower, making a six-hour journey into one of six weeks. This true story is the basis for Disney's 1999 film, The Straight Story, directed by David Lynch of Twin Peaks.

When we're first introduced to Alvin, it's easy to stereotype him as a cantankerous and uneducated farmer. The beauty of this film is how deftly it takes us beneath the surface and introduces us to the variety and depth of human nature. Once Alvin undertakes what he recognizes will be an arduous journey, he becomes, if not less stubborn, at least more gracious, opening up to strangers who open themselves up in return. There are no fanciful theatrical tricks or flashbacks that explain how Alvin got to be who and where he is; instead it is through discussions with the people he meets along the way — a runaway, an athlete, a veteran, and a priest — we learn his background and the challenges he and others have faced in their lives. How many of these exchanges and events are from Alvin's actual journey and history, and how many were invented for the sake of cinema, I'm unsure. Regardless, the film is so character-driven that audience members looking for some action or hilarity will be disappointed. But, as the title suggests, this is a fairly straightforward film, and the viewer who redefines his expectation of "something" will be rewarded.

The Straight Story was Richard Farnsworth's swan song, as the 79-year-old actor died a year after portraying the 73-year-old Iowan, who'd himself died three years earlier. His portrayal of Alvin is the subtle focus of the movie; in fact, there are probably only two scenes in the entire film that don't feature Farnsworth to some degree. He shares the camera with some beautiful filmography that captures both the beauty and the loneliness of Iowa and its residents. Some unique transitions blend two scenes together, producing interesting contrasts between the two.

I didn't expect much from this film, and it is a slow one, for sure. But it was ultimately inspiring, as it reminded me of the illogical wanderlust of which many of us have often heard the call. In 1998, my own brother and I travelled across the country in a 35-state, 36-day, 12,728-mile journey. The experience brought together two brothers, a goal shared by The Straight Story. Travelling is as much about people as it is places, which is why last summer I chose to vacation not at a popular tourist destination like San Francisco, but by driving 1,300 miles back and forth between Helena, Montana, and Leavenworth, Washington, along some roads I recognized from ten years earlier. Why Alvin didn't invest in a bus ticket instead of a lawnmower can only be explained by his insistence that "I have to do this on my own." I may've made my trip on my own, but the people at the end reminded me I was always among friends. Like the documentary 10 MPH (except even a Segway goes twice as fast as a John Deere), The Straight Story makes me want to get back on the road and reconnect with America, myself, and my far-flung friends. The wheels are in motion…

Share this entry. Email this entry. Print this entry.