-There's so many... things I want to say to you.
-No, I love your stories. Tell me a story, Idgie. Go on you ol' Bee Charmer, tell me a good tall tale.
-One time, there this this lake and uh, it was right outside of town. We used to go fishin' and swimmin' and canoein' in it, and uh this one November this flock o'ducks came in and landed on that lake, and uh the temperature dropped so fast that the lake froze right there and then the ducks, they flew off ya see and took the lake with them .... and uh, now they say that lake is over in Georgia... imagin' that.....
There are a handful of movies that have changed as I have gotten older. Most go along the lines of "why did I ever like that?" Like "Labyrinth"... Have you tried watching that as an adult? I mean, those muppeteers were hiiiiiiggghhhh... But I digress. My love for "Fried Green Tomatoes" has never really changed. I have always gotten a kick out of this movie, but my view of the movie has definitely veered drastically. Watching as a younger person, I was completely captivated by the storytelling. Jessica Tandy's Ninnie Threadgood led the viewer (along with Kathy Bates) on one of the most moving and epic stories to ever be told on film (much the same way that Peter Falk tells the story of "The Princess Bride"). There is a little for everyone: romance, comedy, revenge on wife-beaters, and food fights.
Still, watching this movie as an adult made me realize something I had missed before. I may be wrong (and if I am, please don't take this revelation away from me), but Itchie and Ruth were lovers. This makes this movie mean so much more to me. A hidden love that was so obvious and strong, but was secretive that it was even hidden from plain view throughout the course of the movie. I probably saw this movie ten times growing up and never really caught on the possibility until I revisited it a couple of years ago. This is also a movie with amazing rewatchability, but as many times as I have seen it, I am still not sure whether Jessica Tandy's character was Itchie Threadgood or not....
If you read the book, which I know you don't do, it is more clear that they are lovers, although never actually said. It's a beautiful, subtle movie.
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