The Straight Story promotional photo

Each month, Melanie Friesen invites a distinguished guest to Vancity Theatre’s Cinema Salon, in order to present his/her favourite film. After the screening, both audience and speaker have the opportunity to engage over drinks and snacks in the Vancity lounge. This month’s film is David Lynch’s 1999 film The Straight Story.

After the dark and quirky weirdness of Eraserhead, Blue Velvet, Wild at Heart, and Twin Peaks, David Lynch shifts into first gear, giving us The Straight Story, a gentle, lingering meditation of a man who hopes to make amends with his brother. Alvin Straight (Richard Farnsworth) drives his lawnmower 320 miles from Lauren, Iowa to Mount Zion, Wisconsin to try and heal the rift. After working solidly in Hollywood since 1937, Farnsworth’s final film is the triumph of his career.

Bravely defying what it normally takes to excite moviegoers, Lynch presents an intimate story of dignity and courage. Notable highlights are the sweeping musical score by Lynch’s favoured composer Angelo Badalamenti and double-Oscar winner Freddie Francis’ photography — this was also Francis’ last film.

Dawna Friesen

Dawna Friesen is anchor and executive editor of Global National. She’s spent her entire working life as a journalist, living and working across Canada for Global, CBC, and CTV, in Vancouver, Toronto, and Ottawa. She left Canada in 1999 to spend 11 years as a foreign correspondent for NBC News in London, England, travelling extensively to cover many international news stories, from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Friesen won a Emmy Award for coverage of Barack Obama’s 2008 election and was awarded a Gemini for best news anchor in 2011. She lives in Vancouver with her nine-year-old son.

Vancity Cinema Salon with Dawna Friesen Presents The Straight Story

Date: Tuesday, January 6, 7 pm
Venue: Vancity Theatre, 1181 Seymour Street, Vancouver
Tickets: $13.00; may be purchased online

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