Citizen Ruth (1996)
Director:
Alexander Payne
Tagline:
« Life, liberty, money and the pursuit of happiness. She’s gotta have it. »
Actors:
Ruth Stoops
Diane Siegler
Norm Stoney
Gail Stoney
Rachel
Rating:
(9’793 votes)
(9’793 votes)
Quotes:
« Ruth: Suck the shit out of my ass, you fucker!
»
[Ruth is the on phone after seeing a news report about her]
« Ruth: You wanna send a message? I ain't no fucking telegram, bitch!
»
« Ruth: [pause] Nothing's wrong! I'm fine now. You think I'm a fool. You're the fool, cause guess what? This is a war and Diane's a spy. How bout that?
»
[pause]
« Ruth: Now you're catching on!
»
[pause]
« Ruth: Oh yeah! Well, you're a cunt!
»
« Ruth's Mother: Ruth, you listen to me! Don't you do it! What if I'd aborted you?
»
« Ruth: Well at least I wouldn't have had to suck your boyfriend's cock!
»
« Ruth's Mother: Don't you bring that up again! That's ancient history! I've been saved!
»
« Ruth: Fuck you!
»
Trailer:
Citizen Ruth
Runtime:106 minutes
Plots:
An irresponsible, drug-addicted, recently impregnated woman finds herself in the middle of an abortion debate when both parties attempt to sway her to their respective sides.
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…
