In 1999, David Lynch of all people directed this very straightforward, sentimental film about an elderly man named Alvin Straight who travels from Iowa to Wisconsin on a lawnmower in order to visit his estranged brother, played by Harry Dean Stanton. It was based on a true story and there were no typical, Lynchian, surreal twists on the material- he just told the story as it was, letting the movie rest on the performance of Richard Farnsworth, who received an Oscar nomination for the role. Sadly, Farnsworth was terminally ill with bone cancer at the time of filming, and committed suicide not long afterwards, at the age of 80 years old, a sad end to a life spent acting in films and television since 1937. The movie takes place in September, making it a perfect fit for out fall theme this week.
Trailer:
