The Straight Story

The Straight Story is a 1999 biographical drama film directed by David Lynch. The film was edited and produced by Mary Sweeney, Lynchs longtime partner and coworker. She cowrote the script with John E. Roach. The film is based on the true story of Alvin Straights 1994 journey across Iowa and Wisconsin on a lawn mower. Alvin Richard Farnsworth is an elderly World War II veteran who lives with his daughter Rose Sissy Spacek, a kind woman with a mental disability. When he hears that his estranged brother Lyle Harry Dean Stanton has suffered a stroke, Alvin makes up his mind to go visit him and hopefully make amends before he dies. Because Alvins legs and eyes are too impaired for him to receive a driving license, he hitches a trailer to his recently purchased thirtyyearold John Deere 110 Lawn Tractor, having a maximum speed of aboutmiles per hour, and sets off on the 240 mile journey from Laurens, Iowa to Mount Zion, Wisconsin.

Alvin Straight has not shown up to his regular bar meeting with his friends. He is eventually found lying on his floor at home, although he insists that he just needs a bit of help getting up. His daughter Rose takes her reluctant father to see a doctor, who sternly admonishes Alvin to give up tobacco. He also tells Alvin that he should start using a walker. Alvin refuses, and does not tell Rose. Alvin then learns that his brother Lyle has suffered a stroke. Longing to visit him, but unable to drive, Alvin gradually develops a plan to travel to Mount Zion on his ancient riding lawnmower and towing a small homemade traveltrailer, to the consternation of his family and friends.Alvins first attempt fails after experiencing difficulty starting the old mowers motor, he doesnt get far before the machine finally breaks down, and he is forced to flag down a passing bus. Alvin arranges for his mower to be transported back home on a flatbed truck with him still perched on the mowers seat, where he takes out his frustrations on the mower by blowing up its motor and gas tank with a wellaimed shotgun blast. At the John Deere dealer, he purchases a newer replacement lawn tractor from a salesman Everett McGill who is generous but describes Alvin as being a smart man, until now. ........

Source: Wikipedia