Ruby's Movement

Authors: Chris Moffitt
Location: North Carolina

"Ruby's Movement”

Directed by Spike Lee
Written by Spike Lee
Music by Jan A.P. Kaczmarek

Principal Cast:

Ruby Fillmore (Whoopi Goldberg)
Young Ruby Washington (Raven Symone)
Sundra Fillmore (Keke Palmer)
Andrew Whipper (Will Smith)
Michael Washington (Terrence Howard)
Elizabeth Washington (CCH Pounder)
Chief Robert Johnson (Aaron Eckhart)
Martin Luther King Jr. (Denzel Washington)
Andrea Fillmore (Sharon Warren)

Tagline: "History is in the eye of the beholder"

Synopsis: Sundra Fillmore is not an ordinary teenager. Her mother, Andrea, raised her all alone as a teenager and has been dying of breast cancer. Her father left her and her mother and she does not know or care where he is. On the eve of Sundra's thirteenth birthday, her mother dies leaving her no one. Sundra is sent to live with her grandmother, Ruby. Ruby is old-fashioned, southern woman living in the deep south in Durgan, Alabama, a small town just outside of Montgomery, where her family has lived all her life.

Sundra is upset all the time, she is mad at her mother because she got pregnant so young and then died leaving her with nothing. Ruby explains to Sundra that she too got pregnant young and had to raise Andrea all alone. Sundra says that her mother, Andrea told her that their grandfather died in a car accident and that that was the reason why Ruby had to raise
Andrea all alone. This statement makes Ruby almost cry and she then decides to tell Sundra the truth. She takes Sundra upstairs to the attic of her home and pulls out a picture. Ruby says to Sundra that this man in the picture is her grandfather not the other man that everyone thinks is her grandfather.

Ruby then begins to tell her story. At the end of 1967, Ruby was a senior in high school and was an idealistic, naive, young woman. She was still Ruby Washington and living with her parents. Her father, Michael, owned a convenience store and was a distinguished member of the black community. One day while Ruby was walking home from school she witnessed a protest outside of Montgomery City Hall. Leading the protest was Andrew Whipper, a powerful and handsome speaker. Ruby fell immediately in love with Andrew and began to follow him and his protest group all around Montgomery. She gains enough courage eventually and talks to Andrew and the two realize that they have a deep and meaningful connection. Ruby begins to follow the teachings of Andrew Whipper who does not agree with Martin Luther King's beliefs in non-violence and Andrew begins to turn toward the Black Power Movement. Eventually, Ruby and Andrew become a couple and begin to meet in secret. At the same time, a white-owned bookstore known as an underground meeting area for white supremists is burned down and the chief of police, Robert Johnson believes that Andrew and his radical group committed the arsen and he plans to search out Andrew and arrest him. The rest of the white supremists in the town plan to kill Andrew for his believed involvement in the arsen. Ruby's father also learns that she and Andrew have begun a secret relationship and begins to fear for her life and their family's reputation when the town finds out that Ruby has been seeing an older man.

What the press would say:

"Ruby's Movement" is an outstanding film that shows the Civil Rights Movement from the point of view of a young, naive high school girl. Spike Lee returns to his roots and takes a fictional turn on the civil rights movement and delivers a film that combines great elements from his previous films, "Inside Man", "Malcolm X", and "Do the Right Thing". Raven Symone is amazing as young Ruby showing true chemistry with Will Smith. She is raw and revealing leaving everything on the screen. Her interactions with each of the characters especially her mother played by the wonderful CCH Pounder are heartfelt and full of emotion. Will Smith and Terrence Howard both show that they are not one-hit oscar wonders giving emotional powerhouse performances. Will Smith is charismatic and convincing as the civil rights advocate with dangerous and violent intentions. Whoopi Goldberg proves to be the film's scene-stealer because as the secret-carrying, older Ruby
she carries grace and nobility in each scene with the young and upcoming Keke Palmer. Denzel Washington gives a wonderful performance in his short few scenes as Martin Luther King and gives a great contrast to Smith's over-the-top, violent and excentric Andrew Whipper. The film also recreates the atmosphere of the south during the late sixties with excellent camera work and fantastic art direction and thanks to a chilling score
by Jan A.P. Kaczmarek the film transitions great between cliffhanger scenes and brings it to a great surprising finale. The film is visually beautiful with each character showing emotion and anguish in each scene drawing the audience into the film's story. "Ruby's Movement" will generate plenty of Oscar buzz.

Nominations:

Best Picture
Best Director- Spike Lee
Best Actress- Raven Symone
Best Actor- Will Smith
Best Supp. Actress- Whoopi Goldberg
Best Supp. Actress- Keke Palmer
Best Supp. Actor- Terrence Howard
Best Original Screenplay- Spike Lee
Best Original Score- Jan A.P. Kaczmarek
Best Cinematography
Best Art Direction
Best Makeup
Best Costume Design