“Bogie and Bacall,” says Ruthie, “they have nothing on us.” Oscar-nominated filmmaker Deborah Dickson's delightful documentary profiles septuagenarian Jewish grandmothers Ruth Berman and Connie Kurtz, two nice, middle-class Jewish wives from Brooklyn, who--40 years earlier--went from being close friends to becoming soul mates. Preparing to celebrate their 25th anniversary as a couple, Ruthie and Connie narrate their personal history, from the moment they first realized they loved each other to their painful separations from husbands and children, and on to the difficult (in Ruthie's case) period of “coming out” to friends and family. In addition, conversations with old friends shed some light on the more insular social milieu during the 1960s, which contrasts sharply with the happy, casual banter the couple now share during everyday activities. Committed to each other and the values central to their lives (community, religion, forthright living, and fighting for social justice), the pair's struggle includes a high-profile 1994 lawsuit fought against the New York City Board of Education in which the couple sued for (and won) domestic partner benefits. A funny and intimate love story that is ultimately a celebration of life itself, this is highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (A. Cantú)
Ruthie & Connie: Every Room in the House
(2002) 56 min. VHS: $89: public libraries; $250: colleges & universities. Women Make Movies. PPR. Color cover. Volume 19, Issue 5
Ruthie & Connie: Every Room in the House
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