Fried Green Tomatoes

[Guest Jennifer T]

A girl friend at work loaned me a copy of the movie, "Fried Green Tomatoes" and told me that I'd love it. I watched it this weekend and she was right!! It was incredible. I was kind of awe struck. Every girl that I've ever been attracted to has been like Idgie. My wife is very much like that. And I was always Ruth.

In the book that the movie is based on, Ruth and Idgie are lovers. I think the movie captured some of that at the scene on the dock and then later with the foodfight in the Whistlestop Cafe. As I watched the movie, I felt such a deep sense of longing. To give to my wife what I cannot yet give her.

Anyway, great movie. Just ramblin'. At home with a migraine today. It's starting to subside, but it had me pretty incapacitated most of the night.

[Guest Donna Jean]

Jenifer.....

One of my all time favs!

I own the flic and have watched it numerous times....

love it!

I'm sorry about the migraine, but, I'm glad that it's feeling somewhat better!

LOVE

Donna Jean

[Guest Jewel]

I love this movie, despite the director tiptoeing around the fact that the two women are lovers. I developed a serious crush on Mary Stuart Masterson after I first saw it, LOL.

Sorry about the migraines... hope you're feeling better! I've been having "cluster headaches" lately... not fun.

[Sally]

I am one of the very few humans on this planet that has yet to see "Fried Green Tomatoes" - I have also never eaten any, I intend to correct both over sights once I arrive in New Orleans.

I am sorry about the migraine - I haven't had any in years but have started having them again recently - it is no coincidence in my mind that I was working at a different store in the same mall the last time I had any migraines - there must be a trigger in that environment.

Love ya,

Sally

[Guest Elizabeth K]

Sally - you will like Fried Green Tomatoes - the food dish as well. Actually FGT are from Mississippi and Alabama - but we have them here - just with cajun breadcrumbs, a bit tastier ... and fried pickles.

I have loved that movie forever! I ALWAYS knew about the lover's part - it was just too controversial for the times. Funny - killing and eating an evil husband was acceptable, but the sweet and everlasting love of two women for each other had to be only shown in a subtle way.

Oh my - all those chick flicks I loved to watch - I thought I understood - then I had my brain switched over to the right fuel... now, I REALLY understand!

So for you advanced on HRT, go back and find those classics.

Lizzy

[Guest Jennifer T]

Elizabeth!!! You're giving movie spoilers!!! Sally hasn't seen it yet!

But yes, I agree. Seems odd that the lesbian theme was so controverisal.

I have a question, though. I'm not on hrt. Never have been. I understand chick flicks. Always have. And my female friends are usually amazed at how much I understand about women. My wife finds it pretty phenomenal. What if my brain is already wired that way? What would hrt do to that?

Jewel, yes, I could develop a crush on Idgie too. Easily.

[Guest Elizabeth K]

Grin - I read your question: "I have a question, though. I'm not on hrt. Never have been. I understand chick flicks. Always have. And my female friends are usually amazed at how much I understand about women. My wife finds it pretty phenomenal. What if my brain is already wired that way? What would hrt do to that?"

Honey - YES - me too. I have always understood what I considered the female mindset and my girlfriends were often astounded "I got it" with them.

You and I are women in mind and soul. Of COURSE we get it. ALways have - to a degree...

BUT

On HRT - oh my- you become totally female. You just thought you knew! Maybe pre-HRT - 60%? YOU JUST WAIT! Everything is interconnected - everthing you and other women do makes perfectly logical sense!

The worst part? You begin to feel MEN ARE SUCH JERKS! They just don't know about life and how wonderful the world is - just like it is! No need to chop it up and remold it, no need to fight over power and possessions. They just need to learn how to go shopping!

Yes, you brain is already wired that way, but you are a gasoline engine trying to run on diesel.

I bought a teeshirt - wriiten across the chest POWERED BY ESTROGEN.

I need to add: DOES A BODY GOOD!

hee hee

Lizzy

[Guest Donna Jean]

Loved the theme in that movie about the lovers...very understated though....

It's funny what things are acceptable and what's not....

And I love fried green tomatoes...in real life....

That is what we eat when they start to come in before they ripen....

Breaded and fried.....

OMG! They're awesome!

And them's good eatin'.....

Oh, and Julie/Julia........

Great movie!

Donna Jean

[Guest Evan_J]

A girl friend at work loaned me a copy of the movie, "Fried Green Tomatoes" and told me that I'd love it. I watched it this weekend and she was right!! It was incredible. I was kind of awe struck. Every girl that I've ever been attracted to has been like Idgie. My wife is very much like that. And I was always Ruth.

In the book that the movie is based on, Ruth and Idgie are lovers. I think the movie captured some of that at the scene on the dock and then later with the foodfight in the Whistlestop Cafe. As I watched the movie, I felt such a deep sense of longing. To give to my wife what I cannot yet give her.

Anyway, great movie. Just ramblin'. At home with a migraine today. It's starting to subside, but it had me pretty incapacitated most of the night.

What you have to remember is that even in the '80s and '90s -as recent as those feel- to portray a lesbian , sexual , relationship that was not in some way dysfunctional , dangerous, or untimately destructive was still "unacceptable" . There was still a very prevalent structure in place that such a thing didn't happen , people "feared" it would draw "good girls" into " that horrid way". Even now (which I never though homosexuality, for all the prejudice that still is out there , would be as openly discussed and portrayed so soon) the "overly manly" lesbian, the "hardcore bulldagger" STILL is not allowed in too many media representations unless she's going to die, commit suicide or be institutionalized. She is not allowed to "come out on top" and "get the girl". For those of you those who like fried green tomatoes and would like to see something like that though, try Bound with Gina Gershon.

For folks still wanting to explore the world of lesbian/woman power films that are a little off the beaten path: Fire - it was an indie film about two women in India. circa 2000 or something like that.

[Guest Jennifer T]

The worst part? You begin to feel MEN ARE SUCH JERKS! They just don't know about life and how wonderful the world is - just like it is! No need to chop it up and remold it, no need to fight over power and possessions. They just need to learn how to go shopping!

I came to that conclusion a very long time ago, Elizabeth. I feel it. I know it. Always have.

And to be stuck in this shell....

[Guest Jewel]

What you have to remember is that even in the '80s and '90s -as recent as those feel- to portray a lesbian , sexual , relationship that was not in some way dysfunctional , dangerous, or untimately destructive was still "unacceptable" . There was still a very prevalent structure in place that such a thing didn't happen , people "feared" it would draw "good girls" into " that horrid way". Even now (which I never though homosexuality, for all the prejudice that still is out there , would be as openly discussed and portrayed so soon) the "overly manly" lesbian, the "hardcore bulldagger" STILL is not allowed in too many media representations unless she's going to die, commit suicide or be institutionalized. She is not allowed to "come out on top" and "get the girl". For those of you those who like fried green tomatoes and would like to see something like that though, try Bound with Gina Gershon.

For folks still wanting to explore the world of lesbian/woman power films that are a little off the beaten path: Fire - it was an indie film about two women in India. circa 2000 or something like that.

Mmmm.... Gina Gershon in Bound... serious hotness.

I remember watching Bound when it first came out and thinking it was surprising that it was written by a couple of straight guys. It turns out that one of the writers is a trans woman, Lana Wachowski... makes sense to me.

I'll second both recommendations - Fire was a fascinating and moving glimpse into a culture most of us outside of India are unfamiliar with.

And yeah, ditto to what Evan wrote about the restrictiveness in Hollywood for so many years (read about The Hays Code for more). From the late 30s until very recently, if homosexuality was even broached, you could be sure a gruesome death would follow. Or a suicide, like in The Children's Hour.

Maybe we should start a "Recommended Lesbian Films" thread? LOL. Being a total film geek, I've probably seen just about every one available, good and bad.

[Guest Jewel]

I came to that conclusion a very long time ago, Elizabeth. I feel it. I know it. Always have.

And to be stuck in this shell....

<devil's advocate>

Okay, forgive me for being the contrarian here, but well... I know a lot of awesome guys. I've never felt like all or even most men are jerks. And HRT didn't change that. I especially wub many of the wonderful guys on this site.

In fact, I'd say that, aside from making me a lot more in touch with my emotions and bringing them closer to the surface, it didn't really change the way I think or make my mind more female than it was before. Now living day to day in society as a woman and interacting with others as a woman has changed my perspective on things somewhat. But there wasn't any fundamental shift post-HRT. More of a refinement of what was already there.

And this shouldn't be taken in any way as disparaging others' experiences. Just because I don't feel like HRT had that dramatic an effect on my mind doesn't mean that it didn't dramatically affect others. Insert a giant YMMV here.

</devil's advocate>

[Guest Jennifer T]

Elizabeth, I would have pm'd this, but I don't see that you can pm here. So, I'll just post it here. You may be right. I have no experience with hrt. So, it would be presumptuous of me to say much of anything about it, especially when you have, and apparently so many other here have.

When I was little, my friends and I were on equal footing. Except they were all biological girls. We played together. We understood each other. We hung out as girl friends. But there always came the point where we had to part ways (the girls woudl continue on without me) because, I was a boy. And there was the line drawn in the sand that I was not allowed to cross. That line was and always has been the physical things that make me male. But that was it.

Now I hear, well, you are only maybe 60% at best in your mind and thus, still separated. And that is here with others who I would assume are like me. It leaves me out again.

So, even at my age and will oll my life experience, it still hurts.

Peace.

[Guest Jennifer T]

<devil's advocate>

Okay, forgive me for being the contrarian here, but well... I know a lot of awesome guys. I've never felt like all or even most men are jerks. And HRT didn't change that. I especially wub many of the wonderful guys on this site.

My apologies. I'm generalizing, and I know it. And I too know a few guys that I really like. I suppose I should not be disparaging. That wasn't my intent. But in my early life, guys were jerks. And all the things I see in this world committed by men, the horrible crimes and atrocities, well, it overwhelms me.

If I've offended anyone, please forgive me.

[Guest Jennifer T]

Mmmm.... Gina Gershon in Bound... serious hotness.

I remember watching Bound when it first came out and thinking it was surprising that it was written by a couple of straight guys. It turns out that one of the writers is a trans woman, Lana Wachowski... makes sense to me.

I'll second both recommendations - Fire was a fascinating and moving glimpse into a culture most of us outside of India are unfamiliar with.

And yeah, ditto to what Evan wrote about the restrictiveness in Hollywood for so many years (read about The Hays Code for more). From the late 30s until very recently, if homosexuality was even broached, you could be sure a gruesome death would follow. Or a suicide, like in The Children's Hour.

Maybe we should start a "Recommended Lesbian Films" thread? LOL. Being a total film geek, I've probably seen just about every one available, good and bad.

Thank you to you and Evan J. I just looked them both up on IMDB. Will check them out.

[Guest NatashaJade]

I remember seeing FGT at a cinepub in New Orleans with a fellow stage manager and a nun. Thank goodness for Sister Judith because the other stage manager was a girl who had a lot more interest in me than I had in her. I always did enjoy getting drunk with that nun though. I don't remember much of the film, but I was going through a period where I just couldn't stand Jessica Tandy for personal reasons...and I was pretty drunk (but that goes for most of the three months I was in New Orleans when I wasn't working). Alcohol and movies do not mix.

luv

Gin

[Sally]

OK, Lizzy,

We'll watch Fried Green Tomatoes and have a plate of the while we watch.

So no more spoilers!

Love ya,

Sally

[Guest Elizabeth K]

OK, Lizzy,

We'll watch Fried Green Tomatoes and have a plate of the while we watch.

So no more spoilers!

Love ya,

Sally

SALLY! You ever watch the comedy "Clue?" The butler did it! HEE HEE

I was also being a bit disingenuous when I said all men are jerks! I meant to say MOST MEN ARE JERKS!

Nooooooo - back up Lizzy! I know a Few Good Men (great movie) and it seems that I need to defend men - having playacted as one for 50 plus years... here goes...

Most men are jerks? TOO STRONG! Let me add "THEY CANT HELP IT!" I mean that they are jerks and all... hee hee - they can't help it!

There are many many exceptions, I thought and thought and thought - I had a list of two, but I later scratched one off.

And of course - I am only 18 years old (says my therapist) maybe I will grow up to like men. I like Evan already, but he is so sweet! And JJ and RJ and Ainsley and Joe Cool and Alex and Matty and Pol and ... yea! BRONX is back! LEO posted! wowzers...

The true exception is the long list of true guys here on Laura's. You have my admiration and my love! I would never think of you guys as jerks! Seriously - very brave and very noble! Good peoples!

Rambling here (Lizzy is off her meds)

Fried Green Tomatoes - don't tell Sally about the ship hitting the Iceberg - wait? nevermind - that was Kate Winslet and Kathy Bates! Not Jessica Tandy...

Isn't Tandy from Ft. Worth? Nevermind... obscure joke.

{shut up Elizabeth!}

okay

[Guest lvmyftm]

LOVE that movie!!!

[Guest Jennifer T]

I remember seeing FGT at a cinepub in New Orleans with a fellow stage manager and a nun. Thank goodness for Sister Judith because the other stage manager was a girl who had a lot more interest in me than I had in her. I always did enjoy getting drunk with that nun though. I don't remember much of the film, but I was going through a period where I just couldn't stand Jessica Tandy for personal reasons...and I was pretty drunk (but that goes for most of the three months I was in New Orleans when I wasn't working). Alcohol and movies do not mix.

luv

Gin

This sounds like a very interesting story!