The Straight Story

The Straight Story has built a devoted audience in Australia on MUBI and Rialto Amazon Channel, and in the US on Disney Plus and Criterion Channel among viewers who want their drama to earn its emotional beats. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. With 1,812 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Richard Farnsworth's performance alone is worth the time investment. Available now on MUBI — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, The Straight Story is worth clearing space for. Character-driven storytelling at its most effective — The Straight Story earns every emotional beat it goes for. Retired farmer and widower Alvin Straight learns one day that his distant brother Lyle has suffered a stroke and may not recover. Alvin is determined to make things right with Lyle while he still can, but his brother lives in Wisconsin, while Alvin is stuck in Iowa with no car and no driver's license. He then has the idea of making the trip on his old lawnmower, thus beginning a picturesque and at times deeply spiritual odyssey. Richard Farnsworth and Sissy Spacek lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1999. The Straight Story resists tidy resolutions in a way that respects how messy real consequences actually are. The consistency throughout is what elevates it — not every moment is the best, but none of them are a reason to stop watching.

The Straight Story is what you recommend to people who say they do not really watch much. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. A contained runtime means every scene is doing real work. Richard Farnsworth is the centre of it, and it is one of their strongest performances on record. The patience it asks of you early on is paid back with interest.