We lost a titan today. The director David Lynch, a weaver of surreal dreams and nightmares, has left us.
A major theme of his work was Americana and its shadows. As he said
“My childhood was… Middle America as it’s supposed to be. But… I discovered that if one looks a little closer at this beautiful world, there are always red ants underneath. Because I grew up in a perfect world, other things were a contrast.”
Many cinephiles love many of his films because they are elusive puzzles that they get to struggle with and talk about.
But I’d like to remember him today for The Straight Story.
It features a seemingly simple tale, inspired by true events. It follows Alvin, a weathered WWII veteran, as he embarks on an improbable odyssey. His brother, miles away and estranged for years, has suffered a stroke. Alvin, too frail to drive a car, sets out on a 240-mile pilgrimage of reconciliation on his trusty lawnmower.
Along the winding backroads of middle America, Alvin encounters: kind strangers offering a helping hand, individuals grappling with their own quiet sorrows, and glimpses of the resilience and compassion that bind us together. The Straight Story is a film about the beauty and pain of ordinary lives.
If you’ve heard of Lynch’s film’s but have scared away by their complexity, the Straight Story is a really good place to start. You can catch it on Disney Plus.
Optimistic Indie Roleplaying 