 the straight story is a 1999 biographical drama film directed by david lynch. the film was edited and produced by mary sweeney, lynch's longtime partner and co-worker. she co-wrote the script with john e. roach. the film is based on the true story of alvin straight's 1994 journey across iowa and wisconsin on a lawn mower. alvin (richard farnsworth) is an elderly world war ii veteran who lives with his daughter rose (sissy spacek), a kind woman with a mental disability. when he hears that his estranged brother lyle (harry dean stanton) has suffered a stroke, alvin makes up his mind to go visit him and hopefully make amends before he dies. because alvin's legs and eyes are too impaired for him to receive a driving license, he hitches a trailer to his recently purchased thirty-year-old john deere 110 lawn tractor, having a maximum speed of about 5 miles per hour,the 1966 models have a maximum speed of , according to http://jdtechtalk.com/wp-content/.../1964brochure.pdf, or, according to another source, his original was capable of . (http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/99999999/famousiowans/41221018/straight-alvin) and sets off on the 240 mile journey from laurens, iowa to mount zion, wisconsin. the film was a critical success and garnered audience acclaim, although the overall gross proved less than expected. reviewers praised the intensity of the character performances, particularly the realistic dialogue which film critic roger ebert compared to the works of ernest hemingway. it received a nomination for the palme d'or at the 1999 cannes film festival and farnsworth received a nomination for the academy award for best actor. ==plot== alvin straight has not shown up to his re
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