The Straight Story (2160x1023)
The Straight Story (2160x1023)
The Straight Story (1999) © Asymmetrical Productions

ACMI presents

The Straight Story

David Lynch | UK, France, USA | 1999 | G
Film

Tickets

Full

$20

Concession

$16

ACMI Member

$14

When

Sat 15 Feb - Sat 1 Mar 2025

See below for additional related events

David Lynch's assured, calmly paced road movie is the perfect film for a Saturday afternoon.

Based on a true story, Richard Farnsworth (Anne of Green Gables) stars as Alvin Straight, a wily old man nearing the end of his life. After a health scare of his own, he hops on his ride-on lawnmower to travel 240 miles from Iowa to Wisconsin to visit his estranged brother who has just had a stroke.

Curator’s note

Sit back, relax and let Alvin do the driving.

David Lynch’s frequent collaborator Mary Sweeney adapted the story of Alvin Straight’s cross-country journey, making it one of Lynch’s few films based on an existing screenplay. Perhaps because of this, the film feels modest and unadorned with an assured pace and tone that captures the stoic determination – and stubbornness – of salt-of-the-earth Americans.

Nothing exemplifies that stoicism better than Farnsworth himself who was terminally ill when he was cast as Alvin but took on the role in honour of the real-life character. He deservingly received an Academy Award nomination for his naturalistic performance, which stands out among the deliberately stilted and unnaturalistic performances that Lynch usually prefers.

The Straight Story premiered at the 52nd Cannes Film Festival to worthy critical acclaim.

– Reece Goodwin, Curator (Film & TV)

Format: DCP
Language: English
Source: STUDIOCANAL
Courtesy: STUDIOCANAL
Runtime: 112 mins

Event duration

112 mins

Rating

G

Where

Cinemas, Level 2
ACMI, Fed Square

Plan your visit

Focus on David Lynch (Thu 6 Feb – Sat 1 Mar 2025)

There are no upcoming related events at this time.

Program Passes

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3-Session Passes
Full $48, Concession $42, Member $39

6-Session Passes
Full $90, Concession $78, Member $72

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