Fried Green Tomatoes [VHS] [Import] (1991)

   人生に疲れぎみの中年主婦エヴリン（キャシー・ベイツ）は、ある日、老女ニニー（ジェシカ・タンディ）と知り合いになり、彼女の語る昔話のとりこになっていく。それは約50年前、兄の死によって心を閉ざしてしまった少女イジー（メアリー・スチュアート・マスターソン）と、かつての兄の恋人ルース（メアリー・ルイーズ・バーカー）との交流の物語だった…。
   過去の物語を語り聞かせながら、現代に反映させていくという構成が秀逸な、女たちの世代を超えた友情の物語。地方色を巧みに生かした設定や映像美など、映画的に見るべき価値は高い。J・タンディとK・ベイツ、アカデミー賞受賞の実力派名女優ふたりの心地よい演技合戦も、大いに見ものである。監督はジョン・アブネット。（的田也寸志）

老人ホームの老女が中年女性に回想して聞かせる形式で描く、世代を超えた女性の友情物語。20~50年代のアラバマ州でフライド・グリーン・トマトを名物料理に賑わうカフェを切り盛りするふたりの女性を巡る出来事を綴る。J・タンディとK・ベイツ共演作。

老女が昔を回想する形でストーリーが進行する作品。アメリカ南部アラバマ州にある「ホイッスル・ストップ・カフェ」を舞台に、そのカフェが全盛だった頃を描く。メアリー・スチュアートほか出演。

Kathy Bates stars as an unhappy wife trying to get her husband's attention in this amusing and moving 1991 screen adaptation of Fannie Flagg's novel Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe. After befriending a lonely old woman (Jessica Tandy), Bates hears the story of a lifelong friendship between two other women (Mary Stuary Masterson and Mary-Louise Parker, seen in flashback) who once ran a cafe in town against many personal odds. The tale inspires Bates to take further command over her life, and there director Jon Avnet (Up Close and Personal), in his first feature, has fun with the film. Bates develops a real attitude toward her thickheaded spouse at home and some uppity girls in a parking lot, but dignity is generally the key to Avnet's approach with the story's crucial relationships. Tandy is a joy and clearly loves the element of mystery attached to her character, and Masterson and Parker are excellent in the historical sequences. --Tom Keogh

Kathy Bates stars as an unhappy wife trying to get her husband's attention in this amusing and moving 1991 screen adaptation of Fannie Flagg's novel Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe. After befriending a lonely old woman (Jessica Tandy), Bates hears the story of a lifelong friendship between two other women (Mary Stuary Masterson and Mary-Louise Parker, seen in flashback) who once ran a cafe in town against many personal odds. The tale inspires Bates to take further command over her life, and there director Jon Avnet (Up Close and Personal), in his first feature, has fun with the film. Bates develops a real attitude toward her thickheaded spouse at home and some uppity girls in a parking lot, but dignity is generally the key to Avnet's approach with the story's crucial relationships. Tandy is a joy and clearly loves the element of mystery attached to her character, and Masterson and Parker are excellent in the historical sequences. --Tom Keogh

This Special Edition contains a 10-minute documentary that provides background information and interviews. Also contained are outtakes from the film and a visit to the actual Fried Green Tomatoes cafe.