The Straight Story 1999

In the tranquil town of Laurens, Iowa, 1994, an unlikely journey unfolds. Seventy-three-year-old Alvin Straight (Richard Farnsworth), a frail yet resilient veteran of World War II, finds himself struggling to navigate his daily life despite the weight of his various health issues - diabetes, emphysema, and the lingering effects of former addictions. His only solace is a pair of canes that help him inch along, a testament to his unyielding spirit.

The quiet rhythms of Alvin’s existence are disrupted one fateful evening when he receives news that his estranged brother, Lyle (Harry Dean Stanton), has suffered a stroke. The brothers’ decade-long silence, born from a bitter dispute, now seems like an insurmountable barrier to reconciliation. Yet, something within Alvin compels him to embark on the arduous trek to Mount Zion, Wisconsin - a journey that would normally be impossible for someone of his physical condition.

Undeterred by his own limitations and those imposed by others, Alvin concocts an audacious plan: he will drive his trusty Rehd lawn mower, a contraption that has served him well in the past. With a clapboard trailer attached to the mower, Alvin prepares for the long haul, buoyed by a sense of determination and purpose. His daughter, Rose (Sissy Spacek), while concerned for her father’s well-being, senses the depth of his resolve and can only look on as he sets off into the unknown.

As Alvin ventures forth, he encounters old friends who warn him of the folly of his endeavor, but he presses on, driven by an insatiable desire to reconnect with his brother. The lawnmower’s progress is slow and laborious, yet Alvin persists, undaunted by setbacks or doubts. His determination knows no bounds, a quality that ultimately leads him to the doorstep of the John Deere farm equipment dealer, where he acquires a new ride to replace his trusty steed.

Finally, on September 5th, Alvin sets off once more, this time with a newer lawn tractor by his side. As night falls, he camps out in the fields, the stars above serving as a reminder of the vast expanse that lies between him and his destination. The road ahead stretches out like an open highway, full of promise and uncertainty, as Alvin Straight embarks on a journey that will test the limits of his resolve and prove that even the most unlikely of travelers can achieve greatness through sheer force of will.

As Alvin embarks on his journey, the first individual he encounters is a pregnant and disenchanted hitchhiker (Anastasia Webb), who finds solace in his warm demeanor and words of wisdom. He shares stories of his own life, recounting the loss of seven out of fourteen children born to him and his wife, as well as the tragic fire that led to the wrongful removal of Rose’s four kids. Alvin imparts a profound lesson on the strength of family bonds by comparing the ease of breaking individual sticks to the futility of attempting to break a bundle of sticks. The next morning, he awakens to find the hitchhiker gone, leaving behind a poignant symbol of unity - a bundle of sticks.

As Alvin seeks refuge from the elements in an abandoned farmhouse, he is treated to a mesmerizing rainstorm. The following scene unfolds as a sea of RAGBRAI cyclists whizz by him, generating a sense of camaraderie and shared experience. At the cyclists’ camp, Alvin’s presence elicits applause, and he engages with the group in thought-provoking discussions about the trials and tribulations of growing old. When asked about the most challenging aspect of aging, he wistfully remarks, “remembering when you were young.”

The tranquility of his surroundings is soon disrupted by the relentless stream of massive trucks barreling past him. Alvin then encounters a distraught woman (Barbara E. Robertson) who has hit yet another deer while commuting, despite her best efforts to avoid them. As she drives away in tears, Alvin seizes the opportunity to prepare and consume the deer’s flesh, watched by an assortment of peculiar deer decoys. In a gesture of appreciation for the sustenance provided, he mounts the antlers above his trailer’s rear doorway as a tribute to the deer.

As the landscape gradually unfolds its rolling hills, five weeks into Alvin’s journey, his trusty mower suddenly goes awry and careens down a steep slope where a group of onlookers has gathered for the controlled burning of an abandoned house. The kindly Riordans (James Cada, Sally Wingert), a middle-aged couple, warmly welcome him to stay with them as they work together to repair his tractor.

As Alvin’s financial situation begins to dwindle, he turns to Mr. Riordan for assistance, borrowing a cordless phone to make a long-distance call to Rose, requesting that she send him his Social Security check. In a gesture of gratitude, he leaves payment on the doorstep, a token of appreciation for the loan. Meanwhile, Mr. Riordan and his wife extend an invitation to accompany them on the remainder of their journey, enticed by the vibrant autumn foliage. However, Alvin politely declines, preferring to continue on his own path.

As he navigates the rural landscape, Alvin is drawn into a chance encounter with a fellow traveler, who invites him to share a drink at the local watering hole. Although Alvin himself abstains from liquor, he joins his companion over a glass of milk, and their conversation takes a poignant turn as they reflect on the scars of war. The weight of shared experiences prompts Alvin to revisit the trauma of his own military past, including the regretful memory of accidentally killing one of his comrades, which he has kept hidden for decades.

With his tractor restored to working order, Alvin is confronted with an unexpectedly steep bill from the mechanics, a pair of bickering twins. However, through a combination of negotiation and emotional connection, Alvin successfully negotiates a more reasonable price, sharing his story and emphasizing the importance of familial bonds. The mechanic twins seem to resonate with his words, recognizing the value of reconciliation.

As Alvin presses on, he crosses the mighty Mississippi River, eventually finding himself camping in a cemetery, where he strikes up a conversation with a priest (John Lordan). Recognizing Lyle’s name, the priest reveals that he is aware of his stroke and expresses surprise that Alvin has never mentioned having a brother. Alvin’s response is characteristically straightforward: “Neither one of us has had a brother for quite some time.” Driven by a desire to make amends with Lyle, Alvin emphasizes the irrelevance of past conflicts, and the priest echoes his sentiments, saying “Amen” to that sentiment.

The next day, Alvin arrives in Mount Zion, where he pauses at a local tavern, ordering a beer for the first time in many years. With his tab paid and his thirst quenched, he exits the establishment, ready to face whatever challenges lie ahead.

As Alvin navigates the winding roads, a sudden and inexplicable hiccup in his engine’s performance forces him to pull over mere miles from the threshold of Lyle’s humble abode. The uncertainty etched on his face is palpable as he contemplates the best course of action, his mind racing with the possibility of being stranded in an unfamiliar environment. Just as all hope seems lost, a behemoth of a farm tractor lumbers into view, its driver kindly offering to lend a helping hand. As it turns out, the issue is merely a trivial matter of contaminated fuel, which promptly clears up once the contraption has had a few minutes to sit idly by. The benevolent farmer takes the reins, leading the way on his trusty tractor as he gently guides Alvin’s mower-tractor hybrid along the final stretch, ensuring its safe arrival at Lyle’s doorstep.

Upon arriving at his brother’s dilapidated residence, Alvin employs his two canes to make his laborious approach. A soft call-out into the void is met with an initial silence, prompting Alvin to breathe a sigh of relief when Lyle finally materializes before him, supported by a walker. The brothers reunite, their physical impairments serving as a poignant reminder of the passage of time. As they settle in together, Lyle’s gaze falls upon Alvin’s ingenious, though unorthodox, mower-tractor creation, prompting him to query its purpose with a mixture of curiosity and skepticism. Alvin responds with characteristic simplicity, “I did, Lyle.” The weight of this revelation is not lost on his brother, who is visibly moved by the sentiment. As they sit together beneath the star-filled sky, the two men are transported back to a bygone era, their shared experiences and memories serving as a testament to the enduring bonds of sibling affection.