Film Forum

Alexander Payne’s CITIZEN RUTH

Alexander Payne · 1996 · U.S. · 102 min

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Ruth Stoops (Dern), a poor, drug-addled young woman who’s already had four children taken from her by the state, finds herself pregnant again while in jail. When the judge threatens her with a felony charge unless she has an abortion, Ruth is taken in by pro-life activist Gail Stoney (Mary Kay Place), and suddenly becomes the reluctant centerpiece of an escalating tug-of-war between pro-choice and pro-life activists, each eager to use her as a message for their cause. New 4K restoration by IndieCollect, in collaboration with The Criterion Collection and Paramount Pictures A PARAMOUNT PICTURES RELEASE