Ask Dr. Ruth is a feature-length documentary that tells the story of Dr. Ruth Westheimer, a woman who overcame incredible adversity to become one of the most recognizable figures in American popular culture. Born in Germany in 1928, Ruth was only 10 years old when her parents sent her to live with a Swiss family in a desperate attempt to save her from Nazi persecution. Ruth's parents later died in the Holocaust, and she spent the rest of her childhood and young adulthood moving from place to place and struggling to build a life for herself.
Despite these challenges, Ruth never gave up on her dreams. After emigrating to the United States in the 1950s, she earned a master's degree in sociology and a PhD in education. Ruth began working as a sex therapist in the 1970s, just as the sexual revolution was heating up. Her frank and open approach to sexuality made her an instant celebrity, and she soon became a regular guest on television shows like The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.
Ask Dr. Ruth tells the story of Ruth's remarkable life through a combination of archival footage, interviews with family members, colleagues, and friends, and new footage of Ruth herself. The film is directed by Ryan White and produced by Rafael Marmor, Christopher Leggett, and Jessica Hargrave. It had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in 2019 before being released theatrically and on streaming platforms. Today, it is widely considered one of the best documentaries of the year, praised for its intimacy, honesty, and humor.