The Rural Road
As Alvin Straight begins his road trip to see his brother, whom he has not spoke to in ten years, he ends up meeting a variety of people along the way, and gains more than an opportunity to make things right with his brother, he gains an opportunity to make things right with himself. The rural road int his film functions as a backdrop for lessons learned in life as Alvin meets a variety of people along the way. He shares life strories with the people he meets, and is able to reflect upon his own life and the decisions he has made along the way. In doing so, he is able to in gain perspective on his own life, so that by the time he does get to see his brother he has had time to reflect and realize the importance of famiily and the fragility of life.
The rural road connects people, as they are one their various journeys in life and allows strangers, if only for a few moments to connect, share their stories, learn something about themselves and life, and then continue on their journey. Alvin was able to help the young woman who had run away from her family, but helping her realize from his ow personal experience that you only get one family, and despite the ups and downs, running away from them will only cause pain in your life in the long run, as he has learned from his own disputes with his brother. Allvin also offers insights to a young man about life, getting older, and the perspective he has gained and can now appreciate by looking back on his life.
The rural road also functions as a place for self realization and forgiveness. As Alvin makes his journey he goes through a personal transformation, as does everyone he encounters on the road. Every person he meets is on their way to a specific destination, including himself, and each person experiences change and growth between the time they leave for their destination and by the time they arrive. The rural road provides the time for such self realization and actualization to occur. It is a slower paced road, a quieter raod than the road we are used to seeing in road films. It allows for more personal encounters with a variety of people, who both Alvin helped and who helped Alvin.