THE STRAIGHT STORY

US, 1999, 111 minutes, Colour.
Richard Farnsworth, Sissy Spacek, Harry Dean Stanton.
Directed by David Lynch

The Straight Story is one of the best screen stories about old age and, especially, the wisdom that comes with experience and the need for putting one's life in order and reconciling where there has been antagonism. Here, unlike Miss Daisy, there is no chauffeur. Alvin Straight is a determined old man who drives himself.

As played by veteran Richard Farnsworth, Alvin is a genial old man who confesses that after his war experiences (including the revelation that as a sniper he mistakenly shot and killed one of his own men). He had a mean and a drinking period and fell out with the brother who had been so close to him. A preacher had persuaded him to give up the drink and he lives with his daughter (Sissy Spacek) the company of friends.

David Lynch is best-known for his surreal pictures of the dark side of American society (Blue Velvet, Wild at Heart, Twin Peaks) but he also made The Elephant Man and Dune. Instead of his previous movie, Lost Highway, Lynch has now found an American highway and drives straight and straightforwardly down it with Alvin.

Based on a true story, it is a film about human decency.

1. A film by David Lynch? His career and style of filmmaking? The contrast with this story and its directness? However, his use of stylistic techniques, photography, editing, musical score?

2. The locations in the Midwest? Laurens, the country town? Houses, streets, bars, people? The open road of Iowa and Wisconsin? The landscapes, the Mississippi River? Houses, people? An atmosphere of middle America? The musical score?

3. The opening, the focus on the town, the camera work, the focus on the house, the sound of Alvin's fall, the lady in the yard? The daughter coming home? The discovery of Alvin on the floor? His being helped up, his independence and not wanting to be sick? The setting for the film?

4. Going to the doctor, his independence and self-assertion? His illness? Requirements? His refusal of x-rays? His going home, the relationship with his daughter and her help? The phone call about Lyle and his stroke, Alvin making his decision to go?

5. His buying things in preparation for the trip, his friends from the hotel, their curiosity, bargaining? The sequences of the tractors in the fields, the crops, his lawnmower and his decision to go? His setting out - his hat being blown off, having to ask the bus driver for help? His having to come back home?

6. His buying the John Deere tractor, the seller and his guarantees of the quality of the machine, 1966? Alvin and the decision to go the several hundred miles on the tractor, his lack of a licence, his eyesight, his wanting to camp out? The preparation for the journey?

7. The journey and the film as a road film, the old man and his looking back on his life, giving it meaning by going to see his brother? Reconciliation?

8. The people he passed on the way: the woman hanging out the clothes on the line and waving with her son, the young hitch-hiker and her coming upon him at the camp, his intuitions about her situation and pregnancy, their discussion about their families, his telling the story of his daughter's mental inability, her children, the flashbacks to the fire, the authorities taking the children away, judging she was incompetent? The young girl and her not telling anyone about the pregnancy? His fable about the bond of family, the sticks and being broken, the bundle? His taking shelter in the shed? The cyclists passing him, the chat about being old, how being older enables one to separate the wheat from the chaff, taking all life has to offer, the worst part about remembering being young?

9. The woman crashing into the deer, her hysteria and upset, not wanting to hurt the environment? His getting the food and cooking the meat?

10. The crowd watching the burning house, the fire brigade and their exercise, Alvin and his not having brakes, coming down the hill, the gathering speed, the stopping of the mower? His fortune that it was not turned over? His talking to the family about his trip and its meaning? The phone call, Rose and hearing from her father, her sending the cheque? The family offering to drive him to his brother - but his wanting to finish the journey, "A kind man talking to a stubborn man"?

11. The old man of the family, the friendship with Alvin, the discussions about the war? Going to the hotel, Alvin reminiscing about the war, his drinking, being mean, the preacher helping him off the drink? Seeing the war in everything? His story about being a sniper and the death of his ally in friendly fire? The old man and his story about the incendiary bomb and the deaths? The quiet tranquillity of the old men reminiscing after 50 years about the impact of war?

12. The twins and their bickering, the discussion about the costs, Alvin and his even-handedness in bringing down the costs - and giving them a little homily about brotherly love?

13. The crossing of the Mississippi? The encounter with the priest, the cemetery, the reminiscences about the early pioneers of the area? The priest offering his dinner, sitting round the fire, Alvin telling his story, the priest and his encounter with Lyle, the openness and ecumenical aspect of the story? Alvin and his being able to open up - his explanation of Cain and Abel, anger and liquor, his wanting to make peace?

14. His reaching the town, going into the bar, allowing himself the enjoyment of a cold beer? Finding the directions to Lyle's house, the lawnmower and its finally conking out - the help, getting going, driving into Lyle's drive?

15. Lyle coming out, the memories of their growing up in Minnesota, the cold, the work, the games, falling out? Lyle and his personality, welcoming Alvin, sitting down on the balcony, at peace with each other, the reconciliation understated, looking at the stars?

16. A film of humanity, of old age, of serenity and wisdom in old age and the possibilities for love and reconciliation?