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The Straight Story

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7.7/10 • 1.6K

1999-10-15 • 1h 52m

Drama

A true story that proves a little determination goes a very, very long way.

A retired farmer and widower in his 70s, Alvin Straight learns one day that his distant brother Lyle has suffered a stroke and may not recover. Alvin is determined to make things right with Lyle while he still can, but his brother lives in Wisconsin, while Alvin is stuck in Iowa with no car and no driver's license. Then he hits on the idea of making the trip on his old lawnmower, thus beginning a picturesque and at times deeply spiritual odyssey.

Directors
David Lynch
Editors
Mary Sweeney

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Richard Farnsworth

    Richard Farnsworth

    Alvin

  2. Sissy Spacek

    Sissy Spacek

    Rose

  3. Jane Galloway Heitz

    Jane Galloway Heitz

    Dorothy

  4. Joseph A. Carpenter

    Joseph A. Carpenter

    Bud

  5. Donald Wiegert

    Donald Wiegert

    Sig

  6. Tracey Maloney

    Tracey Maloney

    Nurse

  7. Dan Flannery

    Dan Flannery

    Doctor Gibbons

  8. Jennifer Edwards

    Jennifer Edwards

    Brenda

  9. Ed Grennan

    Ed Grennan

    Pete

Reviews2

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John Chard Avatar

John Chard

Feb 21, 2016

9/10

I want to thank you for your kindness to a stranger. An absolute delight. From director David Lynch, The Straight Story finds the famous purveyor of the oblique on wonderfully mellow form. Story finds a superb Richard Farnsworth as Alvin Straight, an old boy long in the tooth who sets off across America on his lawn mower to visit his estranged brother. You see, he doesn't have a driving licence, so lawn mower is the viable form of transport. Lynch and writers John Roach & Mary Sweeney have offered up a wry and astute observation of Americana. The journey Alvin takes involves him meeting a number of eccentrics and confused souls, which pitches Alvin as our conduit to a rich view of the life we have - or will - live. Culminating in a finale that rewards anyone with an intelligent soul. The message is clear. A beautiful film for the beautiful of heart. 9/10

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  • The Straight Story poster
  • The Straight Story poster
  • The Straight Story poster
  • The Straight Story poster
  • The Straight Story poster
  • The Straight Story poster
  • The Straight Story poster
  • The Straight Story poster
  • The Straight Story poster

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
$10,000,000.00
Revenue
$6,418,028.00
Keywords
sibling relationshipmississippi riverwisconsinlawnmoweriowabiographybased on true storyroad tripfamily relationshipsfamilyjourneyelderly manbrother brother relationshippersonal journeytransformative journey