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Fried Green Tomatoes - Were they lovers?
Posted by wagerwitch • 9/24/09 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: are they just friends or more?, movie review question
OK - Yeah - I know... I watched Fried Green Tomatoes for the First time recently.
It was a GREAT Flick...
But the hubby and I have an argument.
I say they were lovers.
He says - no - that they were just best friends because they NEVER show anything.
I say - the unspoken was more obvious.
What do you say?
User Comments
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From what I've read here and there, the book it was based on delves deeper into their (Idgie and Ruth's) relationship, and the whole town knew and accepted them being together.
The film offers a light version of things between them, and there's an audio commentary by the director in which he mentions that the food fight scene is meant to be seen as "symbolic love-making".
I haven't read the book, as you may have guessed, but I think the film is great, regardless of the difference(s) it may have from the original source and the decision to not be explicit with the relationship.
Also ... Towanda! -
OK - cool - I was just wondering because it really came across as a complete Romantic relationship than a typical friendship.
It was A GREAT movie tho.-
Tell the hubby to wake up and smell the lesbianism*
*And I don't mean that in a literal way, unless ...
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ROFLMAO!
Well I think he wouldn't mind... But it is the point of the matter... LMAO - I'm right... -
The book makes clear that they were indeed lovers.-
Well we all know that a writers interpretation and a director's interpretation creates a split. I never read the book, but in the movie they were not lovers.
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That's like a lesbian cult movie, what do you think?
To be honest, I just saw them as good friends when I saw it the first time and didn't know the background of it. I think it is a great movie because you can see two completely different things in it. -
Well to be honest - I saw it as an unrequited love kind of thing - like Izzy was in love with Ruth - and Izzy was the boy one --- and well Ruth never quite crossed that boundary - but that they still loved each other...
At least that is how the movie came across to me.
It was a great flick - I think I might even read the book.
I also think the old lady is Izzy - Am I wrong? And I think after Ruth dies - Izzy marries the sheriff and lives in the house with him - before they tear it down - at least that is what I was understanding of it.
sigh - I'll have to watch it over again - and I'll have to get the book.
It really says a lot about life and some things that go on in it - including racism and just life...
Another movie that was fabulous to me was SECRET LIFE OF BEES
That was superb.-
The movie implies that Ninny (the old lady) might be Idgie, even though she explains that she was raised by the family and married Idgie's brother, Cleo. In the book they are two different characters.
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Are they really 2 different characters?
Bummer - it would make more sense if it was...
And it makes sense because she knows so much and because there were no other white women of the same age - it fit perfectly.
UNLESS - of course - Idgie doesn't marry whatshisface sheriff but he marries someone else and tells the whole story to her - after everyone else dies.
Yanno?
Cause NOW I have to read the book. -
I think Evelyn (Cathy Bates' character) believes that Ninny and Idgie are the same. Note the look she gives her when Ninny explains that Idgie is still around.
As for the book, various sources say that they're two different people (and even have scenes together, etc.). While movie-Ninny's story ends with Ruth's death, the book seems to go on for many years after that. The ending in the book is ... different. That's all I'll say
Let me know if you get to read it. -
do read the book, wagerwitch. Fanny Flag is a wonderful writer.
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I have always been so confused as to the Idgie/Ninny identity thing. In the movie, there's the implication that Ninny is Idgie.
In the book there seems to be more evidence to the contrary. -
Yea I thought they were the same too...especially at the end when they went to Ruth's grave site and there was a jar of wild honey sitting there. The more I read about the book, the more I learn about the story...I think I'll go get a copy and get to the bottom of this!
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Yep, definitely lovers. -
Reading the book, I walk away thinking they were lovers - watching the movie, even, it's implied. I sort of akin my friendship with my best friend to the friendship in the novel - she's bi-sexual and much freer sexually than I am (if that's possible) but we absolutely love and adore each other - more so than sisters or just friends. I am considered a member of her family, I attend all functions for her daughter, when we are together, we sit close, share food and are inseparable. Without her I could not breathe - but we have never been lovers as I am straight. But if people didn't know us better, I think they'd assume, and most do, that we have a sexual relationship. Sort of went off on a rant, sorry! -
I would say that there was definitely a bond of love there. But maybe the reason they make it ambiguous or up to the reader/viewer's interpretation is to make a point about that.
Love is love. Is it not? -
I believe green tomatoes fried are a symbol commonly used in lesbian kitchens to distinguish those girls who enjoy rough lesbian domination leather sex and simple home cooking from those who enjoy the gentler side of Sappho's pleasures and eating out. -
That is one of my all time fave movies! It took me two viewings to get that they were indeed lovers.-
I saw the movie the first time when I was like 12 or something...so lesbinism wasn't something I was sensitive to. So in my mind, I saw them as friends. I've had relationship with friends that seemed to be deeper than normal (as I mentioned) but that's just because I don't connect with just anyone (male or female).
BUT...I can see how they could be lovers.
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I loved every bit of the movie. However, one of my favorite scenes is where those girls cut Evelyn off in the parking lot and she slams their car with hers.
Evelyn is cut off in a parking lot]
Evelyn Couch: Hey! I was waiting for that spot!
Girl #1: Face it, lady, we're younger and faster!
[Evelyn rear-ends the other car six times]
Girl #1: What are you *doing*?
Girl #2: Are you *crazy*?
Evelyn Couch: Face it, girls, I'm older and I have more insurance. -
I think the relationship between women can be complex like that without being so easily defined. Women connect on a much deeper level then male friends do. Sometimes it can feel like your platonically "in love" because someone understands you so much. As straight as I am, my bff and I are very close like that. I would do anything for her, and I know I'll always be a part of her life and vice versa, but we're not lovers. We're good friends. Real and honest friends. Straight friends who have male lovers in our lives respectfully (her's is a fiance no less). So being that I've seen (and love) Fried Green Tomatoes and have a friendship similar to the one the two main characters shared, I have to say NO they were not lovers. They were just the kind of friends you only get once in a lifetime.
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