What's it like: Light but very rich feature drama, with many aspects: women's empowerment, historical reconstruction, race relations, human goodness and combatting wrong, the connections between people both in the present and across time.
Plot: Set in Alabama USA, with two parallel plots. In the 1980s, Evelyn (Kathy Bates) is struggling in her life, with her marriage and her confidence; and the women's group she attends is not helping her. But one day she meets an older woman Ninny Threadgoode (Jessica Tandy - see Driving Miss Daisy), who tells the story of an Alabama community in the 1920s, centred round the Whistlestop Café, in particular the unlikely friendship between wild child Idgie Threadgoode (Mary Stuart Masterson) and reserved and conservative Ruth Jamison (Sarah-Louise Parker). Ninny recounts the struggles they had in their relationships and work, and in combatting wrongs around them; and from this Evelyn finds the strength to grow and change.
Comment:
A very satisfying drama: engaging, entertaining, serious, funny, wistful, moving, hopeful.
Great performances from all four lead actresses. Most films have only one lead: FGT is interesting for having four leads.
Most of the action is in the 1920s, and it's an excellent reconstruction of the era.
The main message of the film is probably the power of friendship to build us up and guide us.
Quotes:
'When you're a child you think time will never go by, but when you hit about twenty, time passes like you're on the fast train to Memphis.'
'A heart can be broken, but it keeps on beating, just the same.'
'The ones that hurt the most always say the least.'
'All those people will live as long as you remember 'em.'
'You're just a bee charmer, Idgie Threadgoode. That's what you are, a bee charmer.'
'There are angels masquerading as people walkin' around this planet and your mother was the bravest one of them'
'That's what I'm living on now, honey, dreams, dreams of what I used to do.'
Rating: 5/5
29 March 2019
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