Overview
A poignant journey of reconciliation unfolds as a man travels across states on a lawnmower.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Glacial
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- melancholic
- gentle
- witty
- reflective evening
- quiet weekend
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film’s unsentimental humanism, Richard Farnsworth’s performance, David Lynch’s unexpected restraint, and its attentive portrait of Midwestern landscapes and encounters.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Alvin’s journey moves through rural Iowa and Wisconsin, emphasizing local people, open roads, and unembellished regional life.
Alvin undertakes an arduous lawn-mower journey to reconnect with his estranged brother before either man dies.
The lawn-mower trip unfolds through patient encounters that give full weight to conversations, silence, and acts of kindness.
Alvin travels alone on an aged riding lawn mower towing a trailer that carries his supplies and serves as his sleeping quarters.
Films like The Straight Story, and why
Nebraska
shared road movie structure, rural landscapes, gentle humanism, and reflective treatment of aging
Paris, Texas
shared slow-paced Americana, understated family reconciliation, and emotionally restrained character study
The Last Word
shared true-story road journey, elderly protagonist, rural setting, and poignant reconciliation
Movie Details
- Director
- David Lynch
- Release Date
- 1999-10-15
- Runtime
- 112 min
- Rating
- 7.7 / 10 (1892)
Cast
- Richard Farnsworth
- Sissy Spacek
- Jane Galloway Heitz
- Joseph A. Carpenter
- Donald Wiegert
- Tracey Maloney
- Dan Flannery
- Jennifer Edwards
- Ed Grennan
- Jack Walsh
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Disney Plus
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Straight Story about?
- An aging Iowa man crosses the rural Midwest on a riding lawn mower to make peace with his estranged brother.
- What is The Straight Story like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Straight Story as glacial, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Straight Story violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Straight Story.
- What did critics think of The Straight Story?
- Critics broadly praised the film’s unsentimental humanism, Richard Farnsworth’s performance, David Lynch’s unexpected restraint, and its attentive portrait of Midwestern landscapes and encounters.
- Which films are like The Straight Story?
- Films with a similar feel include Nebraska, Paris, Texas, and The Last Word.
- How long is The Straight Story?
- The Straight Story runs 112 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Straight Story?
- In United States, The Straight Story streams on Disney Plus.
