Synopsis

Ruth Stoops, a homeless woman with a substance-abuse problem, discovers that she is pregnant and becomes the focus of a bitter abortion battle. Activists on both sides offer her money, shelter, and protection while trying to control her decision. As Ruth is transformed into a political symbol and media spectacle, her own needs and uncertain intentions are repeatedly ignored.

Factoids & Trivia

• The story was inspired by a 1992 news report about Martina Greywind, a homeless unmarried woman from North Dakota who was offered $15,000 to carry her fifth child to term.

• The film was initially titled "The Devil Inside." It was later renamed "Meet Ruth Stoops" before Miramax settled on "Citizen Ruth," reportedly because the first title sounded too much like a horror movie.

• Filming took place in Omaha, Nebraska, and nearby Council Bluffs, Iowa, from April 7 through May 25, 1995. The production had an estimated budget of about $2 million.

• The film premiered at the 1996 Sundance Film Festival before receiving a limited theatrical release in the United States on December 13, 1996.

• "Citizen Ruth" received several festival honors, including a Best Actress award at the Montreal World Film Festival and a Best Screenplay award at the Thessaloniki Film Festival. It was also nominated for Sundance's Dramatic Grand Jury Prize.

• The movie was Kenneth Mars' final theatrical film role.

• Its Nebraska locations helped establish a recurring connection between the filmmaker's work and Omaha, which later appeared prominently in films such as "Election," "About Schmidt," "Nebraska," and "Downsizing."