Citizen Ruth

Citizen Ruth is a 1996 film that tells a story of a poor, irresponsible and pregnant woman who unexpectedly attracts attention from those involved in the debate about the morality and legality of abortion. The film stars Laura Dern, Swoosie Kurtz, Mary Kay Place and Kelly Preston, and features a memorable extended cameo by Burt Reynolds. It was directed by Alexander Payne and written by Payne and Jim Taylor. The original music score was composed ... more

Citizen Ruth is a 1996 film that tells a story of a poor, irresponsible and pregnant woman who unexpectedly attracts attention from those involved in the debate about the morality and legality of abortion. The film stars Laura Dern, Swoosie Kurtz, Mary Kay Place and Kelly Preston, and features a memorable extended cameo by Burt Reynolds. It was directed by Alexander Payne and written by Payne and Jim Taylor. The original music score was composed by Rolfe Kent. The film was a drama film nominee for the Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize. The film opens with Ruth Stoops and a man (apparently an ex-boyfriend) having intercourse on a bed in a flophouse, after which he disrespectfully throws her out of the apartment. She later goes to a hardware store to buy patio sealant and huffs it in a paper bag in an alley to get high. Ruth is portrayed as a dumb, inebriated addict, capable of doing nearly anything to get money or drugs. Ruth has four children, all of whom have been taken from... less