I have seen lots of movies that graphically show the horrors of war. I have seen movies that grapple with war's complexities, and deal honestly with the load that young men and women have to carry in war. In all of those films, I have never seen anything that honors that sacrifice better than a short scene in this movie. As Alvin Straight is making his way across the highways of Iowa and Wisconsin on a John Deere rider mower, he is forced to camp out in a hospitable stranger's yard. While staying there, he visits a local bar with a fellow WW2 vet. As they sit at the bar, they each recount their stories. We as viewers don't know if this is the first time these men have shared these stories or not. What we do know is that the memories are fresh and painful for these men in the sunset years of their lives.
This whole movie is a tapestry of deeply human moments just like that. They are not all that serious, but they are genuine. There are funny moments, sentimental moments and tense moments. The movie follows an aging World War 2 veteran named Alvin Straight. He is estranged from his only brother. He receives word that his brother has had a stroke. He is unable to drive the 240 miles to see his brother. He is too proud to let anyone else drive him. So, he decides that he will drive a riding mower all the way to his brother's place. Sissy Spacek plays his daughter who gives him loving and firm support. She has her own sad story involving her children that is masterfully depicted. As Straight makes his way to see his brother, the situations and people that he encounters along the way give his journey an almost epic quality. He dispenses wisdom to strangers, listens to people's brutal honesty, and ends up learning something about himself and his brother. He is humiliating himself because he loves his brother. Even though they haven't spoken in years, Alvin knows that this may be the last chance he has to sit under the stars with his brother, as he did as a child during all those warm summer nights in Minnesota.
The film was directed by David Lynch. I have only seen one other of his films. He typically makes surreal and somewhat nonlinear films. His films also tend toward the racy side in their content. In this film, he proves that he can tell a simple story yet also fill it with his own personal touch. The landscape of the midwest becomes a character in this film. Also, the film score seems to almost arise from the landscape in the film. Every time Stephanie and I get out of the city and into rural Minnesota, we cannot help but hum the musical themes from this film. The music along with the gorgeous shots of Iowa and Wisconsin in the fall create almost a meditation. The fall in the midwest is a thing of wonder, and this movie captures that so well.
But in the end, the movie works well because of the humanity of the story and the wonderful performance of Richard Farnsworth. He infuses the character of Lyle Straight with the proper balance of heart and crankiness. Witness the scene wherein he meets a young woman who is running away from home. Here, we see Straight's world weariness as well as his compassion. He seems to have seen stories like this girl's before, but he still is able to show genuine care for this girl. Farnsworth was nominated for best actor for this role, and he should have won. His performance here will stand forever as a wonderful example of acting. He seems to be playing close to himself, but he gives so much richness to the character. As he recounts his brutal experiences during World War 2, the viewer feels heartbroken. This character has been to hell and back. This character, who initially seems so cranky and agitated, is becoming not only sympathetic, but almost heroic. As he faces one last challenge, slowly making his way across the Midwest to see his brother, we can root for him because of the pain he has experienced. Farnsworth creates a complex character whose story is captivating. This movie will always be one of my personal favorites. It is a great example of the power of simple storytelling to move viewers.
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