Netflix’s new film, Ruth & Boaz, a modern retelling of the biblical love story, has been stirring intense debate. Produced by Tyler Perry and DeVon Franklin, directed by Alanna Brown, it is a modern retelling of the Old Testament’s Book of Ruth.
Starring Serayah and Tyler Lepley in lead roles, the film reimagines the scripture in the modern world. It features Serayah’s singer, Ruth, who leaves Atlanta along with her dead boyfriend’s mother for a small Tennessee town. However, her past catches up soon, and she suffers more tragedy.
But by God’s blessing, she finds love in her young employer, who is the owner of a winery. Swapping the ancient tale for a Southern scenery, the film has been ruling Netflix rankings across the world according to FlixPatrol.
Why Are Fans Finding Netflix’s Ruth & Boaz Offensive?
Netflix’s Ruth & Boaz is a bold interpretation of the Biblical tale, and people have been genuinely liking the modern spin. However, at the same time, some viewers found the film offensive and blasphemous.
The outrage around the film largely stems from perceptions that the film adapts biblical narrative too loosely, injects modern s*xual or romantic elements in ways seen as irreverent, or prioritizes spectacle over theological fidelity.
In the original biblical tale, the story was more focused on Ruth and her relationship with God, and how she eventually finds love when she is least looking for it. However, Perry’s adaptation includes romantic gestures, revealing outfits, provocative performances, and other tropes more common in conventional romance films than in religious drama.
Moreover, some fans found it offensive that the film features an all Black cast while the villain is a White guy. A portion of backlash also ties into broader concerns that sacred texts and religious texts are being packaged into consumable goods made solely for entertainment. This seems to have diminished the spiritual gravity of the source text.
Ruth & Boaz Was Meant To Be A Movie That Showed What Love Looks Like
Bryan producers Tyler Perry and DeVon Franklin have framed Ruth & Boaz not as a strict reenactment, but as a faith-inspired love story that resonates with contemporary audiences. In an interview with HelloBeautiful, DeVon opened up about the timing of the film.
It was an organic process. I was studying the Book of Ruth and you know, a couple of years ago when I was doing a sermon series based in the Book of Ruth…she had gone through heartbreak and losing her husband, goes on this journey, you know, with Naomi who was the mother of her husband. They both were widows and it ultimately put her on a collision course with destiny and she found love again and I said, wow, that’s so fascinating that she found love without looking for love.
He went on to discuss how, in our culture, love becomes evasive and frustrating rather than being what it is meant to be, which made him want to make a film that showed what real love is.
I just felt like in the culture right now, love to me is something that is so powerful and at times, men and women we talk at each other, we don’t talk with each other. I just really wanted to do a movie that really talked about and demonstrated this is what love looks like, this is what a modern love looks like, and it felt like the story of Ruth and Boaz was the right story to be able to express that.
In short, Ruth & Boaz was never meant to be a reverent museum piece. It was designed to be felt, experienced, and embraced. While some users may find it in bad taste, its performance suggests that fans are enjoying it.
What do you think about the film? Let us know in the comments below.
Ruth & Boaz is available for streaming on Netflix.
