Straight Story
Straight Story and Alvin's journey during it is much different then any other road film we have seen this semester thus far. Alvin's journey in this film is not about leaving behind something and I really don't think it's about a destination for the most part. The underlying theme is an eventual destination but the film presents that only in the very end. More importantly, the film is about the journey and even more ones self. This is also true because he knows he needs the journey. He is offered rides and such but decides he needs to do it his way. His wisdom is shared on the road multiple times. The appreciation for how his life has been lived in was in abundance and I think this is, and should be important to him. What he seems to have to show for an obviously well-lived life so far is a brother who he hasn't spoken in a long time and daughter with somewhat of a mental illness that he knows is amazing but nobody else can quite see the same also reflecting on him. His brothers mortality I think may bring a sense of his own into light and hence, while he doesn't directly seek it, I think he needed that. Apart from that, the confrontation with mortality I believe is a driving force for the journey. After all, he worked hard all his life and needed this possibly to slow down. Driving 10 mph from Iowa to Wisconsin is a great way to slow down and learn to appreciate the stars like he dreams of doing with his brother as they did when they were kids. I think he was actually looking for the actualizations, unlike other films.