The Straight Story
The film The Straight Story is different from many of the other road films that we have watched in the fact that the main protagonist, Alvin, is an older man. In this sense Alvin has lived a full life and is perfectly set in his ways. Even in the film he calls himself a stubborn man - he is not one of the characters from the other films that needs to grow or "find" themselves. Alvin already knows who he is and what he would like to do i.e. make amends with his brother. Unlike many of the characters in the other road films, Alvin's journey seems to help others more than it appears to help himself.
Also, unlike many of the other road films we have watched Alvin is not running away from anything and the viewer can see this especially in his means of transportation. With his lawnmower, the journey on the rural road is relatively slow paced embodying the type of lifestyle Alvin and his neighbors share. The lawnmower also reveals to the viewer what type of man Alvin is. He is very determined and riding on a lawnmower for six weeks shows his devotion to his brother and the sincerity in his journey. Alvin's journey on a rural road, though different from other films, is not any less dangerous (riding down steep hills) or any less spontaneous than other road films.