Edith Campuzano

September 12, 2006

WMST 401

Tues. 7pm

“The beauty of love and friendship between two women”

The movie “Fried Green Tomatoes” tells two stories about women being strong and weak. It is about learning to become powerful and independent women. This movie also gives the message that women don’t need a man to be successful. In one of the stories Ruth and Idgie start their own business showing the town that they are strong women and they can make it on their own.

The need of feeling beautiful and loved by the man you love. In the second story Kathy Bates played the role of Evelyn Couch, a depressed woman in need of love and attention from her husband Ed. She even tries to “save her marriage” by attending classes for unhappy married couples. A woman that spends her time eating chocolate bars while feeling old and helpless.

In the beginning of this fascinating movie she meets an old happy woman with much desire to tell a story. Jessica Tandy is who played the role of the old woman named Ninny Threadgoode. Evelyn met this old woman in a home for the elderly while trying to visit her husband’s aunt, which was never a success. Ninny started telling the story of two relatives, Idgie Threadgoode (Mary Stuart Masterson) and Ruth (Mary-Louise Parker. Two strong and wonderful women, which by the way learn to be strong and independent the hard way. They both went through a difficult time at some point in their life. Idgie seemed to be so in love with the naturally beautiful Ruth. After loosing her brother in a train accident she would not speak to anybody but the brother’s girlfriend Ruth.

Evelyn finds this woman to be the most intriguing person ever. She quickly finds the comfort and happiness from being around her. She discovers the desire to transform and love herself by listening to how much Idgie and Ruth loved each other. Evelyn was inspired by the power, independence, and love that these two women had. She no longer felt the need of revolving her life around her husband. The way that Idgie protected her best friend and only love Ruth was unbelievable. There was nothing that could stop her from protecting her, not even Ruth’s abusive husband Frank. A man that would beat her and kept her in his home for years until her mother died. The way this man treated Ruth was the most horrible thing that a woman can experience. Idgie being so over protective rescues her from this relationship as soon as she realizes what has happened.

Evelyn found herself trying to find Ninny every week to listen to her story. Evelyn was so motivated by this old woman and her story that she was dedicated to change her life. Evelyn learns that women don’t need a man to be strong and independent.

This movie is so captivating and it inspires women to learn from bad experiences and to stay strong. That we must move on no matter what the situation you find yourself in is. We must always stick together and love each other.