FRIED GREEN TOMATOES AT THE WHISTLE STOP CAFE

FGT GROUP PRESENTS:

FRIED GREEN TOMATOES AT THE WHISTLE STOP CAFE

Fannie Flagg's novel and Jon Avnet's film adaptation

WHAT WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT

THE MOVIE

IDGIE AND RUTH

BLACK LIVES

THE NOVEL

THE SOUTH

Jon Avnet

Lesbian ambiguity

Complexity

The duality of the South

Fannie Flagg

THE BOOK

Author: Fannie Flagg Publication: August 1987, Random House, U.S. Genre: fiction Pages: 403

Original book cover

Fannie Flagg

THE MOVIE

Jon Avnet

GLAAD Media Award

Director: Jon Avnet Released in 1991 by Universal Pictures Awards: 1992 GLAAD Media award Setting: Juliette, GA

actual Whistle Stop Cafe

inspiration for the author

THE AUTHOR

Born in 1944 (age 76) in Birmingham, AL under the name of Patricia Neal

Actress, comedian and author Patricia Neal Fannie Flagg

MAIN CHARACTERS

PRESENT: 1986

PAST: from 1920s onwards

Imogene "Idgie" Threadgoode

Frank Bennett

Ruth Jamison

Ninny Threadgoode

Evelyn Couch

Sipsey

Big George

The ambiguity of Ruth & Idgie relationship & Hollywood strategic ambiguity

The ambiguity of Ruth and Idgie's relationship

Textual clues that a lesbian relationship might exist. the bridge scene the lake scene food fight The interpretation of the body language Idgie rescues her from her abusive husband. Idgie's reaction when Ruth delivers her baby. Idgie's reaction when Ruth dies

THE AMBIGUITY OF RUTH AND IGGI RELATIONSHIP

LESBIAN INTERPRETATION

They share a lesbian identity, romance courtship

Hollywood strategic ambiguity

Lesbian& Gay have always been represented through strategic ambiguity in Hollywood Strategic ambiguity leaves the viewer to decide whether their relationship is a pure friendship or something more. Audience interpretation on Idgie & Ruth's relationship Some define it as friendship Others as a love relationship between two women invisibility "I am invisible because you refuse to see me"

Feminism in Idgie's character

She leads even the life of her friend

She rescues Ruth from her abusive husband

Idgie's Attitude

The way she dresses

She does not care what people think of her

She is the owner of her life

Towanda

THE DUALITY OF THE SOUTH

The South as a THREAT

The South as HOME

When/Where do these two aspects coexist?

The South represents a safe place when it comes to Idgie and Ruth. They seem to be shielded from any sort of discrimination and damage (until the death of Ruth) and they are welcomed and loved by the community -Heaven on Earth

The landscape is romanticized and becomes a welcoming and loving place to be. This trait becomes particularly evident during the “bee charmer” scene

Secondly, the Ku Klux Klan is a constant threat for black people and so-called sympathizers.

At the same time, the South is stereotypically a dangerous place to live and represents a threat. It is depicted in this way in two different circumstances. Firstly, when we meet Ruth’s husband Frank Bennet who is a violent and drunk man who seeks revenge after his wife.

The apex of violence in the film is the apparition of the KKK, who kidnapped Big George, beat him and threatened Idgie. The focus of this passage is still set on human kindness: Idgie doesn’t stop helping her friend, no matter what his skin colour is.

+info

WHEN AND WHERE DO THESE TWO ASPECTS COEXIST?

These two traits meet in the Modern South, specifically embodied by Evelyn Couch. No matter the struggles she faces (catcalling, her marriage is failing, mental health issues, she's trying to find her voice, her womanhood, and her sexuality): she never forgets her kindness. This is becomes evident in her touching friendship with Mrs Threadgoode

WHERE IS THE COMPLEXITY?

MOVIE: Flat black characters Friendship, devotion, allegiance "He watched over Idgie night and day."

Racially stereotyped representation Simplification of black-white relationships Erasure of the character's personality

Idgie and Ruth are always the core of the plot

THE NOVEL: BLACK COMMUNITIES and white-male perspective

1949: Birmingham’s black middle- and upper-class society was at its peak, and the Slagtown News was kept busy reporting on the doings of over a hundred social clubs; the lighter the skin, the better the club. Mrs. Blanche Peavey, Jasper’s wife, who was as light in color as he was, had just been named president of the famous Royal Saxon Society Belles Social and Saving Club, an organization whose members were of such fair coloring that the club’s annual group picture had wound up in the white newspaper by mistake.

MOVIE VS NOVEL

Fannie Flagg with the main cast

IDGIE & RUTH

"A sensitive tale of sisterhood"

"Essentially a story about friendship between two pairs of women"

"A wonderful cinematic valentine to the life-enhancing and soul-stirring powers of friendship"

Brian Orndorf, Blu-ray.com

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

Peter Freedman, Radio Times

• Ruth and Idgie’s relationship was extremely toned down, resembling a friendship more so than a lesbian relationship.
• Hints of a love story can be found by reading between the lines, but “You didn't have to see it, wouldn't see it, if you didn't want to”.
• The movie actively adds elements to suggest a friendly nature and pushes towards that narrative.

RACIAL ISSUES & BLACK CHARACTERS

• The movie shows various episodes of racism, from the application of Jim Crow Laws to KKK beatings.
• It seems like the focus is on Idgie’s reaction and feelings, less so of those actually affected.
• Black characters are cut and underdeveloped, maintaining only “the mammy, the buck, and the pickaninny”.

THE ENDING

• The way it is shot makes it look like Ninny and Idgie are the same person, even though many previous lines contradict this.
• This would mean that Idgie really did settle down and had a new family, adding onto the erasure of her sexuality.
• Evelyn becoming Ninny’s caretaker arguably undermines her development, striping her of the new-found independence.

FRIED GREEN TOMATOES

• One medium green tomato (per person)
• Salt
• Pepper
• White cornmeal
• Bacon drippings

Slice tomatoes about 1/4 inch thick, season with salt and pepper and then coat both sides with cornmeal. In a large skillet, heat enough bacon drippings to coat the bottom of the pan and fry tomatoes until lightly browned on both sides.

You'll think you've died and gone to heaven!

From "Sipsey's Recipes", Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe

THANKS!

FGT Group