The Straight Story 1999

     In 1994, Alvin Straight was 73 years old when he made the trip from Laurens, Iowa to Mt. Zion, Wisconsin to reunite with his brother Lyle who is 75 years old.  The brothers had a falling out and they haven’t had any contact with each other for years.  Alvin heard that Lyle had a stroke and he wants to reconnect in case anything else happens to Lyle.  Alvin is making this 260-mile journey on a riding lawnmower.  The first mower quits and he replaces it with 1966 John Deere.  He also hitches a trailer to the back.  Alvin can’t see very well, he doesn’t like to go fast and the average speed of the mower is five miles an hour.

     Alvin is a very patient man to make this journey at five miles an hour!!  I don’t think I have that amount of patience and fortitude!!  One of the positive messages about this film is the kindness of the strangers Alvin meets on his journey. 3 1/2* (I liked this movie)

112 min Bio directed by David Lynch with Richard Farnsworth, Sissy Spacek, Jane Galloway Heitz, Joseph A. Carpenter, Donald Wiegert, Jennifer Edwards-Hughes, Ed Grennan, Jack Walsh, Harry Dean Stanton.

Note:  Imdb 8.0 out of 10, 96% critic 91% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 4*.

Special Note:  This movie was filmed in Iowa and Wisconsin.