  We propose a field-theoretic interpretation of Ruelle zeta function, and show
how it can be seen as the partition function for $BF$ theory when an unusual
gauge fixing condition on contact manifolds is imposed. This suggests an
alternative rephrasing of a conjecture due to Fried on the equivalence between
Ruelle zeta function and analytic torsion, in terms of homotopies of Lagrangian
submanifolds.
