I love movies made out of real
stories and this one was exceptionally good as its Directed by one of my all
time favorite Directors – David Lynch. And let me tell you this – up front that
this is one David Lynch movie which stands out from all of his others works in
such a way that you would not be able to tell if it belongs to him, unless you
already know that it is. You are going to love it – if you have a sibling and
you are going to love it more if you have differences in between. You are going
to love it more – if you are a born roadie like me – who wants to drive
anywhere he goes and not like being driven. This one is based on the life of
Alvin Straight, a World War II veteran; his estranged brother suffers a stroke
and Alvin goes
to meet him one final time to amend their differences before it’s too late.
Unfortunately because of his age and bad health – he couldn’t get a drivers
license hence he does one final road trip on a Lawnmower (a baby tractor made
in 1966), how his journey goes is the movie all about – the ending is one
heartwarming stuff – it’s a must watch for all serious movie lovers especially
by those who love drama’s in real life. This will blow you out of your minds
like it did to me to plan those road trips I’ve been postponing for years
thinking whether I would be able to do them or not – if he can do it on a
lawnmower – I definitely can do better than that in my car. Do not miss it guys
at any cost – it deserves a watch by everyone, teaches you damn good lessons as
it goes on.
The Movie: Alvin Straight (Richard
Farnsworth) stays in Laurens ,
Iowa with his daughter Rose
(Sissy Spacek) who is mental disability. He is a very simple down to earth guy
who is surviving on his Social Security Check. He has a gang of friends who
hang out every day at a bar in town – one fine day when he doesn’t turn up to
the bar – a friend visits him and to his horror realizes that he has crashed on
the floor and couldn’t get up on his own for hours. With some help they drag
him to a hospital and doctor advices to take good rest and do not move much or
smoke or drink at all, to which he pays no heed as he is a hard nut to crack
anyways. One fine day he gets the news that his brother had a stroke – now he
hasn’t met or spoken to him in like last ten years. To mend their differences
and meet him one last time – he plans a road trip to Mt Zion, Wisconsin which
is 250 miles from his place – that too on his Lawnmower as he has no other
vehicle and a driving license to do the trip. He is too stubborn to be driven,
doesn’t likes flying or any other mode of transport. His lawnmower goes as far
as a couple of miles before finally conking off – what he does with that is a
scene to watch out on screen – let me tell you in advance – you will be shocked
and will be in splits too watching it happen. Next day – he ends up buying
another lawnmower this time a 1966 John Deere Mini Tractor – tows his home made
travel trailer with it. How he walks with the help of those two sticks and how
he gets down every time from his tractor is something you’ve got to see it to
believe it – yet he was determined to do the whole trip on his own without
bothering or taking anybody else’s help.
On his way to Mt Zion he meets a
lot of people on the way and goes through a lot of hardship but its commendable
to see his determination to do the trip and meet his brother one last time
before it’s too late. On his way he helps a young girl hitchhiking her way to
the next town – she sleeps over in his trailer for the night before going off
early in the morning and as a token of thanks – she collects wood sticks and
leaves them near his trailer – it was such a heart warming gesture on her part
and the way he helps and talks to her is another highlight of the movie. Its
gives you quite an insight on his own life with his daughter. He faces quite a
tuff time going on the freeway with big trucks moving at fast speed, with rains
coming in between – he takes shed at a couple of places before reaching the
next town where his motor develops some technical snag and he had to take a
break. The people that he meets in the next town too are shocked and amazed by
his determination – they all help him repair his tractor, he pays them too with
his Social Security check and goes off to meet his brother. The final scene of
the movie is another highlight – it had me in tears big time. I missed my own
brother who I haven’t met in years – seeing this scene.
I myself have done quite a lot of
road trips in last one decade and plan to do so much in very near future. This
movie indeed touched me inside out and made my determination stronger for the
trip we’ve been postponing for quite a while now – I guess the time has come
for me to do it now. Such was the impact of this one – do not miss it any cost
– I am sure you will love it – as it has so much to learn from it. Let me know
if you have seen this already – what you feel about it.
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