Ruby in Paradise (1993)

Director:

Victor Nunez

Writer:

Victor Nunez (writer)

Release Date:

November 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

A woman's search for herself

Plot:

Ruby, a young woman, arrives in a Florida resort town during the off season to make a fresh start. She...

Plot Keywords:

Self Discovery | Florida | Pride | Southern U.S. | Independent Film

Awards:

3 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Ashley Judd	...	Ruby Lee Gissing
Todd Field	...	Mike McCaslin
Bentley Mitchum	...	Ricky Chambers
Allison Dean	...	Rochelle Bridges
Dorothy Lyman	...	Mildred Chambers
Betsy Douds	...	Debrah Ann
Felicia Hernández	...	Persefina
Divya Satia	...	Indian Singer
Bobby Barnes	...	Wanda
Sharon Lewis	...	TV Weather Anchor (as Sharon M. Lewis)
Paul E. Mills	...	TV Evangelist
Brik Berkes	...	Jimmy
Abigail McKelvey	...	Canadian Tourist
Kristina Daman	...	Bar Manager
Mark Limmer	...	Spinnaker D.J.

Runtime:

114 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Spain:13 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Panama City, Florida, USA

Company:

Full Crew/Say Yea

Quotes:

Ruby Lee Gissing: I've done retail before, and I work real cheap.

Movie Connections:

References A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

Soundtrack:

Lesson One

Great Life Affirming Film

I remember 1993 as a year of great female performances. You had Angela Bassetts striking interpretation as Tina Turner in What's Love Got to Do With It; Debra Winger as the dying American Joy Gresham in Shadowlands; Winona Ryder manipulative as May Welland in The Age of Innocence; and the silent power in Holly Hunters performance in The Piano. But as great as these performances were, no performance was better than Ashley Judds, Ruby Lee Gissing in Ruby In Paradise.

What a GREAT film.

There are scenes in this film that ring a sense of truth to what we say and act on, in human nature, as "real" people and not of what Hollywood synthesizes the fake emotions of what human nature should be like. Take for example in the scenes where Ruby trying to be employed and make an existence for herself; trying to work for living. If this was a big Hollywood studio film, her character would be receiving monthly support payments from God. Ashley Judd, and director Victor Nunez, do a great dance of allowing the character to make choices that are truthful and not false.

Other film recommendations on similar themes see Erick Zonka's Dreamlife of Angels.