The Straight Story

'David Lynch offers an uncharacteristically
straightforward and warmly sentimental approach to
his material in this film, based on a true story,
about an elderly man's journey to reconcile with
his brother. Alvin Straight (Richard Farnsworth)
is an ailing widower in his early 70's who lives
in Laurens, Iowa with his daughter, Rose (Sissy
Spacek), who is mildly retarded and has a speech
defect. Alvin doesn't trust doctors, despite
suffering from emphysema and a bad hip. Alvin
learns that his brother Lyle (Harry Dean Stanton)
has suffered a stroke and may not have long to
live. Alvin and Lyle haven't spoken in 10 years,
which Alvin says is mainly a matter of pride and
alcohol; Alvin wants to clear his slate with his
brother before it's too late. However, Lyle lives
in Wisconsin, and Alvin has little money, no car,
and no driver's license. He does, however, have a
riding lawn mower, and so Alvin hops on board and
heads northeast to Wisconsin, hoping to make it
while there's still time. Along the way, Alvin
makes new friends and refuses to give up on his
journey, despite frequent mechanical breakdowns.
Richard Farnsworth's performance as Alvin earned
him an Academy Award nomination as Best Actor; it
would prove to be his final screen appearance, as
he died a year after the film's release.'