FREE ON CINEGEEK.DE David Lynch - The Straight Story 

On the surface, of course, David Lynch's The Straight Story is about Alvin Straight's odyssey through the Midwest and its sleepy communities. But there is much more! The Straight Story is also about all the people who care about Alvin and listen to him. So much kindness among strangers? But The Straight Story is based on a true incident. Yes, it does exist, this kindness among strangers! 73-year-old Alvin Straight (Richard Farnsworth), for one, is from Iowa. He learns that his brother is dying. Alvin wants to see him one last time! But neither he nor his daughter Rose (Sissy Spacek) own a car. The only thing they have is a tractor-like lawn mower. One look at the vehicle and Alvin knows how he will get to Wisconsin to see his brother. 300 miles lie ahead of him to Zion - the name of the town where his brother lives. On the way, we learn some secrets about Alvin, including some very painful ones from the war. Alvin is a cultured man, but when he talks, we notice how rarely he has had any conversations at all in his life. Yet he always finds exactly the right everyday words full of calm and conviction. Back when The Straight Story was released, the David Lynch community was waiting for something new and bizarre from him. I'm sure everyone thought The Straight Story was about to go off the rails. But it never does. Not even when Alvin meets Spinner. He simply follows the country road and there are never any shoals like in Blue Velvet. It is a journey into the past. Alvin remembers when he (and his brother) were young and full of wonder! Back when they sat together and looked at the stars. Then Alvin got engaged and married. He joined the army, lost many years to drunkenness and meanness. But he came out of it all a better man. The people along the way seem to sense that. The greatest thing about The Straight Story is the FACE! Alvin aka Richard Farnsworth looks like an old leather rag and you could do a whole Italo Western trilogy with this ensemble otherwise! Men sitting at the end of the bar or serving behind the bar. Just like proper good old-fashioned bartenders who always hit the right note. even David Lynch always hits the right note. Who do you think the dying brother will be? What will he say? And one thing we learn: Just because you haven't seen someone for ages doesn't mean you have much to tell them....