Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit

Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit (DVD) (*)

~~$24.99~~ $18.97

Screened, competed or awarded at:
BAFTA Awards
Other Film Festival Awards

Language Selections:
English ( Mono )
English ( Subtitles )

Product Origin/Format:
United Kingdom ( PAL/Region 2.4 )

Running Time:
163 min

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen

Special Features:
Cast/Crew Interview(s)
Interactive Menu
Scene Access

Movie filmed in 1990 and produced in:
United Kingdom ( Great Britain, Ireland )

Directed By:
Beeban Kidron

Written By:
Jeanette Winterson

Actors:
Charlotte Coleman ..... Jess
Mark Aspinall ..... Ian
Emily Aston ..... Small Jess
Sharon Bower ..... Mrs. Vole
Cathryn Bradshaw ..... Melanie
Kenneth Cranham ..... Pastor Finch
Freda Dowie ..... Mrs. Green
James Duggan ..... Second fisherman
Pam Ferris ..... Mrs. Arkwright
Peter Gordon ..... William
Richard Henders ..... Graham
Barbara Hicks ..... Cissy
Celia Imrie ..... Miss Jewsbury
Ken Kitson ..... First fisherman
Maggie Lane ..... First ice cream woman
Geraldine McEwan ..... Mother
Chris McNulty ..... Child in Classroom
Katy Murphy ..... Mrs Virtue
Tania Rodrigues ..... Katy
Norma Shebbeare ..... Dust pan
Elizabeth Spriggs ..... May
Tamar Swade ..... Church pianist
David Thewlis ..... Doctor
Sophie Thursfield ..... Jess's real mother
Mandy Walsh ..... Second ice cream woman
Margery Withers ..... Elsie

Synopsis:

Jessica's extraordinarily strong will and heart enables her to rebel against her fanatical, cult-like upbringing. From seven to seventeen Jess is brainwashed to be one of the 'saved', to devote her life to Jesus, to follow the discriminatory teachings of Pastor Finch and his understanding of Revelations. As her warm personality dictates she succeeds in fitting into this regime and spreads the word of Jesus in a fairly content manner. But when her friendship with Melanie develops into something a little more 'unnatural' she easily realizes the error of the Pastors teachings. The girls are subjected to terrible treatment to convince them to repent.

Jeanette Winterson's semi-autobiographical novel Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit transfers wonderfully to the screen in this BBC adaptation (with a screenplay by Winterson). Jess is the adopted daughter of evangelical Christians living in the northwest of England in the 1960s. Her mother wants Jess to be a missionary, but when she falls in love with Melanie, Jess begins to realise that there is more to life than church. When Jess' mother begins to suspect the girls of 'unnatural passions' she tries to destroy their relationship with the help of Pastor Finch (Kenneth Cranham) and his congregation. But their efforts--including a terrifying attempt at exorcism - only push Jess further away. Jess eventually understands that the only way to survive is to escape, and she sets her sights on a place at Oxford. Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit is both a broad comedy and a moving coming-of-age story. Charlotte Coleman is perfect as the teenage Jess, attempting to reconcile her religious devotion and her adolescent passion, but the film belongs to Geraldine McEwan as Jess' mother. McEwan obviously relishes Winterson's script, and she creates a character both monstrous, ridiculous and surprisingly sympathetic. It's a difficult role to carry off, but McEwan succeeds. Her performance is the high-point of this award-winning, provocative film.

A story of love, freedom and choice, based on Whitbread prize winning author Jeanette Winterson. Jess is the adopted daughter of a deeply religious woman. Growing up isolated and insulated in the north of England in the 1970's, Jess is told she's part of a larger plan. Her mother keeps her away from 'Breeding Grounds' like schools, preferring to train her to spread God's word 'to all the heathens in the hot countries.' Jess eventually attends school, but continually feels like an outcast due to her religious beliefs. Her small town life changes when she meets Melanie, a beautiful sixteen-year old, and she experiences love at first sight. As the two draw closer, Jess's mother sees the devil at work and determines to exorcise the demons from her daughter. Faced with the ire of Pastor Finch and his congregation, Jess realises that she must soon decide between following her own heart or the path of life set out for her by others.

This product was added to our catalog on Tuesday 05 May, 2009.

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