Really? This has been one of my favorite movies for years and I had no idea!
In retrospect, there was so clearly a lesbian undertone going on there. Damn you, popular media. You had all the ingredients there. They look so good together, wonderful chemistry, deep friendship. Pfft. Unfortunate that they couldn’t just take the plunge and do something that I guess may have been controversial, but so beautiful.
In Hindsight:
I was 10 when Fried Green Tomatoes came out, but the amazing chemistry between these two was palpable, even to me as a little girl. I wanted to be Ruth so badly, the way Idgie cared for her, rescued her, loved her. I remember wondering if anyone else in the room knew that they were in love or if only I could see it.
When I was older and learned that the book the movie was based on was outright about a lesbian couple I was pissed that they didn’t do the story justice.
I still think the scene with Idgie telling Ruth the story about the pond and the ducks is one of the most romantic scenes I’ve ever seen.