FRIED GREEN TOMATOES AT THE WHISTLESTOP CAFE

US, 1991, 130 minutes, Colour.
Kathy Bates, Mary Stuart Masterson, Mary -Louise Parker, Jessica Tandy, Cicely Tyson, Chris O' Donnell, Stan Shaw, Gailard Sartain, Timothy Scott, Gary Basaraba, Lois Smith, Richard Riehle.
Directed by Jon Avnet.

Jessica Tandy won the Oscar for Driving Miss Daisy, best actress, 1989. Kathy Bates won an Oscar for Misery, Best Actress, 1990. They appeared together in Used People and worked together in this film, a warm and humane story of the American South.

The movie works in two time frames. in the 1980s, an over-sized matron, Kathy Bates, trying to save her marriage by everything trendy that she can take on, goes to visit her husband’s aunt in a home for the elderly. She finds a friend, an old lady, Jessica Tandy, who begins to tell her stories of the 1920s and 1930s.

The rapport between the two actresses is marvellous, the vibrant old woman revelling in the storytelling, the befuddled younger woman being transformed by the experience.

But we are taken back to an equally, even more interesting world, of a tomboy child who loses her beloved brother, Chris O’Donnell?, and the brother’s fiancee. Mary Stuart Masterson gives a vigorous performances as the tomboy, Mary Louise Parker is the fiance.

The customs, manners, family style and the racial bigotry of the times are brought to life. While there is a great deal of humour, there are also the mystery of a death, brutality in a marriage and the Ku Klux Klan.

Recent films have offered comparatively few significant and substantial roles for women. This exception for the three women, as well as for black actress Cicely Tyson in support. It portrays the power of friendship among women with a freshness and grace that is no less intense.

The screenplay, originally by Carol Sobieski, then by the director, working in collaboration with the novelist, Fannie Flagg, was nominated for an Oscar, as was Jessica Tandy for Best Supporting Actress. The male director, Jon Avnet, has been caught up in the power of the women.

The title refers to the specialty at the railways side cafe that the two women run during the 1930s – suggesting also that the film is meant to be delicious.

1. Popularity and the acclaim for the film? The appeal to older audiences? An American story, the South? Over the decades of the 20th century?

2. The title, the images, the cafe and its story, customers, menu? Life at the Cafe? Alabama and green tomatoes? The people associated with the cafe?

3. In Alabama story, the 1920s, 1930s, 1980s? The different periods, the look, costumes, decor, transport, style? The changes? The modern look and the vast transition from the 1930s?

4. The two stories, the opening with the dredging the car, the motif throughout the film, the mystery of the car, the truth?

5. The modern framework: Evelyn and her husband, driving to the institution, visiting the aunt, her hostile reception? The marriage, the routines, his work, coming to the meal, sitting at the TV, obtuse, Evelyn and her desperation, going to the classes with her friend, assertiveness, the different course, sexuality, the discussions about the vagina, the mirror, Evelyn comfortable or not? The range of attempts she made for her husband, the meals, candles? Her becoming more assertive, the rude boy and her being upset, the girls and a parking space, crashing into their car, her retort about age and insurance? On the trampoline, looking after her physical side, confronting her husband?

6. The visits, meeting Ninny, the talking, Ninny and her friendship, enjoying telling the story, the visits, the different episodes, keeping Evelyn and the audience in suspense? The story of Idgie.? And the spirit of Tawanda, the warrior?

7. The beginnings, the preparation for the wedding, the daughter, Idgie and Cleo and his taunts, their fight? The parents, becoming desperate, the bride weeping? Buddy, the good man, with Idgie, the treehouse, getting her down, in the suit, joining the celebrations? Buddy and his stories, the lake and the swans being taken away, the oyster and the pearl…?

8. Ruth, the visits, association with the church, present for the wedding, loving Buddy, going for the walk on the bridge and the water, her hat blowing away, Buddy’s pursuit, his foot caught in the rails, the train, his death, the funeral?

9. The years passing, the family, Ninny and marrying Cleo? Idgie and her tomboy life, playing cards, friendship with Brady and the others at the bar? Her friendship with Sipsey, with George? Life in the 30s? Racial issues, the presence of the Klan?

10. Ruth and her return visit, sharing with Idgie, the outings, playing cards, her work at the church? Ruth as a person, everybody liking her? Frank and his arrival, assertion, Idgie and the clash? Frank marrying Ruth, the going to Georgia, Idgie and the visit, Ruth and the shiner for her eye, the reactions, Frank, complacent, Idgie and George coming to take Ruth away, Frank tripping her on the stairs?

11. The friendship, Idgie’s love for Ruth, returned, the establishment of the cafe, the green tomatoes, success, the train coming, the travellers, plenty of business? Idgie and her playfulness, splashing the water, Brady, the chocolate in his face…? The happy life?

12. Ruth giving birth, love for the baby, everybody caring for it, his name Buddy? The boy growing up, the baseball game, losing his arm – and the funeral for his arm? Ruth becoming sick, cancer, Idgie attending, telling her Buddy’s stories, her quiet death?

13. Frank, the Klan, the confrontations, the threat about the boy? Beating George? Grady standing up to them? Frank unmasking, his threats?

14. The play, Idgie and George performing, the Church celebration, Frank arriving, Ruth away, taking the baby? Smokey, his being a vagrant, his being looked after by Idgie and Ruth, his devotion to Ruth and her kindness? Frank punching him? Frank being hit, disappearing, his car and the river?

15. The police, the interrogations, the man from Georgia, his threats, continual visiting, his eating at the cafe, and the irony of the barbecue? The pursuit for years?

16. The dredging the car, energy and the arrest, George arrested? Going to the court, Idgie’s denial, her story of being at home? The prosecutor, smug, the race issues? The Reverend, his testimony, his hand on Moby Dick instead of the Bible, his saving Sipsey, the visualising of what happened, framed hitting Sipsey, her coming out to defend Smokey, her getting Frank, the meeting and the disposal of the body, boiling the hogs, the barbecue food?

17. Ruth’s death, the trains stopping, the Cafe closing, people disappearing?

18. Evelyn, visiting Ninny, her being in bed, sharing the room with Mrs Otis, the flowers on the wall, being old and not having a fear of death – and reassuring Evelyn?

19. Evelyn, her plan, telling her husband, his disapproval, her determination? The visit, the news of the death, her reaction to the roses being torn down, audience disappointment, the revelation that it was Mrs Otis who had died?

20. Evelyn’s reaction to the information, finding Ninny, her return, finding the house gone, Evelyn making the offer, the talking, walking, her acceptance, seeing Ruth’s grave, the note from Idgie and the twinkle in Ninny’s eye? Idgie or not?

21. A piece of America, the old South, the new South, the 20th century changes? Issues of women, relationships, race, age, memories?