Citizen Ruth

"Life, liberty, money and the pursuit of happiness. She's gotta have it."

Dec 13 1996 R 1h 46m
Comedy, Drama

"Citizen Ruth" is the story of Ruth Stoops, a woman who nobody even noticed -- until she got pregnant. Now, everyone wants a piece of her. The film is a comedy about one woman caught in the ultimate tug-of-war: a clash of wild, noisy, ridiculous people that rapidly dissolves into a media circus.

Plot

Ruth Stoops is a poor indigent drug-user (a huffer - inhaling glue and paint for a high) whose down and out existence is complicated once more by becoming pregnant (she has had and lost four children already). When a judge orders that she gets an abortion or face a felony charge, she is befriended by Gail Stoney, a pro-lifer whose husband is president of the local "Babysavers" group. Suddenly Ruth is thrust into the middle of the pro-choice/pro-life struggle, with each side wanting her to take their side as a "message" to others - and the situation escalates...

Written by

Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor

Directed by

Alexander Payne

Cast

Laura Dern, Swoosie Kurtz, Mary Kay Place

Crew

View crew

Production Countries

United States of America

Production Companies

Miramax, Independent Pictures (II)

Languages

English

Awards

3 wins & 2 nominations

Trailers
Citizen Ruth Trailer
Featurettes
'Citizen Ruth' | Critics' Picks | The New York Times
Scores
# of Votes
9,440
Average Rating
7 out of 10
Metascore
64
Popularity
NA