Ruth

Description

This is a retelling of the story of Ruth in the form of a Romance-Drama, set against the backdrop of the modern conflict in Syria, and the immigration crisis that has been created in its wake. It is a may-to-december romance story in the style of films like "Lost in Translation", a heart warming tale of love triumphing over the many barriers to its fulfilment - the social taboo of the lovers' age gap, the political problem of Ruth's immigration status, and the difference between what the relationship looks like to others (a marriage of convenience for the purposes of immigration and wealth) and what it truly is (two people falling in love against all odds). By placing a British national, and a beautiful and wealthy Jordanian woman in the roles of migrants, the film also subverts the popular understanding of migrants from the Syrian conflict being predominantly violent males. In this case, the migrants are much like you and I, suffering unnecessarily, and this makes a stark comparison between the inflexibility of the legal system, and the grace and kindness of human beings towards each other.

Biblical Connection

This is the story of Ruth, retold in a modern context. It follows the biblical account of Ruth and Naomi's flight from Moab (in our story Jordan, where the biblical Moab was located), the return to Naomi's homeland (in this case Britain), and the subsequent development of a relationship between Ruth and our Boaz character who in this story is a British Cafe owner. This story does not attempt to deal with the complexities of the role of the kinsman-redeemer in ancient Jewish law, instead it puts the rather more accessible love story front and centre, exploring how this young woman and older man might find that they have feelings for each other which lead to lasting happiness, regardless of what the world might say about them. It is also a story that showcases the grace shown to Ruth and Naomi by Boaz, contrasting it with the inflexibility of the law, for it is this overwhelming generosity of spirit that kindles her love for him, and reflects the wider biblical themes of God the Father's love for his people, and his unending loving kindness towards them.