Ruby in Paradise 1993 (DVD) Color Shown in original aspect ratio Approx. 109 min. Playable in North America (the US, Canada, Mexico, etc.)
Starring: Ashley Judd, Todd Field, Bentley Mitchum, Allison Dean and Dorothy Lyman Written, edited and directed by Victor Nunez.
Ruby (Ashley Judd) is a woman in her early 20s and the narrator of the film. She leaves her small town in Tennessee after her mother dies, ultimately landing in Panama City, Florida, a summer resort town she visited as a child. She arrives in Panama City (nicknamed "Redneck Riviera") in the fall, the beginning of the off-season when tourism is slow. Despite this, Ruby manages to get a job at Chambers Beach Emporium, a souvenir store run by Mildred Chambers (Dorothy Lyman). Mildred rejects Ruby's application initially, but Ruby wins her over by telling her, "I've done retail before, and I work real cheap."
The film won the 1993 Grand Jury Prize for Drama at the Sundance Film Festival. Judd's performance earned her the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead, as well as the Emerging Actress Award from the Chicago Film Critics Association. The film received Independent Spirit Award nominations for Best Film, Best Cinematography for Alex Vlacos, Best Director and Best Screenplay for Victor Nuñez, and Best Supporting Actor for Todd Field. The film was also nominated for the Grand Prix of the Belgian Syndicate of Cinema Critics.