Disc Reviews

Fried Green Tomatoes At The Whistle Stop Cafe Blu-ray Review

• 5th Aug 2014

Kathy Bates is Evelyn, a woman hemmed in by the narrow constraints of life as a surburban southern housewife, who changes everything about herself after she meets Ninny Threadgood, Jessica Tandy, at an old people’s home.  As Ninny starts telling Evelyn stories from her life, Evelyn begins to find strength in stories of women who challenged society before her own mother was born.

The film plays out two narratives, in the modern one, Evelyn is battling the change, her ignorant husband and her own lack of direction and ambition. The 1920’s storyline follows the story of tomboy Idgie and the elegant Ruth, friends who eventually come to live together after Idgie rescues Ruth from her abusive husband. As Idgie and Ruth raise a child together, run a business and become successful

What I really love about this film is that it’s full of rich, female characters. No one plays a stereotype and the independence and uniqueness of all these women becomes an inspiring. It’s also very touching to see how all these women care for eachother, no matter what their weaknesses. It’s an unusual film that belongs in the Thelma and Louise category.

The blu-ray is beautiful and packed with some great extras – interviews with the cast which provide a really intelligent insight into the characters. Listening to Mary-Louise Parker (Ruth) and Mary Stuart Masterson detail their characters is genuinely engaging. There’s also a phone interview with Fannie Flagg over the phone which is very quirky. There’s also a featurette on Jessica Tandy which is a bit of a waste as it’s just a list of the films she starred in, but it is a lovely way to listen to that sweeping, uplifting music that is the hallmark of the film.

Beautifully and deftly told, this is a really lovely epic of friendship and the ability to overcome some of life’s greatest challenges.

 Maliha Basak