Eine wahre Geschichte

Not only the most beautiful road-movie I have ever seen, but also a moving film about the autumn of life that inevitably awaits each of us and about brotherly love, for which even failing health and an uncomfortable journey on a tractor over great distances is no obstacle. Even very ordinary things can be extraordinarily beautiful when presented in such a sensitive way. David Lynch is a very wise man... (02.03.2008)

Excellent. Like Lynch’s films, it relies on feelings, you have to live the events together with the protagonist. There are sad moments and happy moments, but most of the time it’s pleasantly sentimental. Another thing worth pointing out is the music score, which improves wonderfully what would otherwise be long and boring scenes, making them a lot more than just bearable. One reliable indicator of how much I’ve enjoyed a given film is how willing I am to let the final credits roll, and here I happily watched the whole lot of it… (15.04.2009)

Ein eher untypischer Lynch, zumindest was die oberflächliche Berührung betrifft... Eine rührende Geschichte über einen sturen alten Mann, der sich eines schönen Tages aufrafft, sich einen Traktor schnappt und ein langes Stück Erde abfährt, um sich mit seinem Bruder zu versöhnen. Lynchs typische Form des Roadmovies ist keineswegs langweilig, die Aneinanderreihung von poetischen und witzigen Geschichten hat eine enorme innere Kraft und die durchdringende Weisheit eines alten, selbstgefälligen Mannes, brillant gespielt von Richard Farnsworth. Aber es gibt auch traditionelle "Lynch-Szenen" (siehe die Szene mit dem Reh). Angenehm, zärtlich, poetisch. Ein schöner Streifen. (27.07.2004)

We can hide from the most essential and innermost connections for as long as we want, but they will eventually catch up with us. Lynch attacks exactly these bonds - and successfully. He captivatingly unfolds the story of one man with interesting supporting characters around him, allowing the viewer to relax, let the story flow, and even make fun of himself (the crawling yellow lines). The only passage where the story loses its charge is the lawnmower repair with "kind strangers", where Alvin struggles not with family disagreement, but with a distant trauma, which didn't fit well with the rest of the story. However, Straight Story emotionally affected me a lot and deserves praise for this surprise. (17.02.2007)

I would like to have been in the movie theater during the premiere of The Straight Story and instead of watching the events on the screen, I would have preferred to observe the hesitant gazes of the enthusiasts of Lynch's surrealist tricks and perverse images. I knew essentially what I was getting into and I didn't expect any surprises, but I am somewhat surprised by the high ratings and uncritical comments. I have nothing against the intention to shoot a story about the importance of family cohesion and clearing out old skeletons from the closet, but the film has a pace that corresponds to riding a lawnmower, and truth be told, those almost two hours drag on. Moreover, in terms of plot, it is somewhat thin and for example, About Schmidt, which has significantly lower ratings, seemed to me several classes better and more enjoyable. My overall impression is somewhere between 2 and 3 stars, but with such a highly acclaimed film, I will lean towards the lower rating, which amounts to 45%. (17.08.2013)

Mit diesem Film ist Lynch erwachsen geworden. Schließlich ist es unmöglich, Experimente eines Filmemachers in Betracht zu ziehen, der nicht gleichzeitig das Handwerk in seiner klassischen Form beherrscht und es schafft, sich mit der raffiniertesten Herausforderung, dem Pathos, auseinanderzusetzen. (18.06.2017)

This is the David Lynch I admire and respect. A recital by the incredibly likeable Richard Farnsworth, whose character is etched deeply, deeply into my heart and memory. This is one of the most beautiful, moving, and best made films I've ever seen (and not just among road movies). Visually and musically captivating. (21.01.2014)

A beautiful story about how one old man decides to embark on a journey in his old age and visit his brother who had a stroke. The two brothers do not have the best relationship and have not seen each other for a long time, so Alvin's journey serves as a personal catharsis. This is not a typical David Lynch film, but thanks to how easy it is to understand and how it presents the human fate without being overly sentimental, you can watch a unique movie that can show in an hour and three quarters how beautiful and terrible life can be. Whether we like it or not, old age is waiting for us somewhere. But old age does not mean that we will stop living, it just hurts more. (17.03.2014)

It's not often that a director like David Lynch can move an audience to tears (except for Elephant Man, of course). The Straight Story is such a sensitively and, above all, civilly told story with beautiful music that not one of my eyes remained dry. An excellent Richard Farnsworth in his final role. (20.05.2009)