Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6748 in DVD
• Released on: 2008-06-30
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Format: PAL
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 165 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
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. --Simon Leake

DVD Description
A poignant, comic and totally original coming-of-age story adapted for the BBC in 1990 by Jeanette WinteRson from her Whitbread prize-winning novel.

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.

With Charlotte Coleman as Jess, Geraldine McEwan as her mother and Kenneth Cranham as Pastor Finch. Also starring Celia Imrie, Pam Ferris and Barbara Hicks.

Synopsis
Based on the acclaimed novel by Jeanette Winterson, Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit is a unique coming-of-age story about a 16-year-old girl who questions her religious upbringing when she falls in love with a female classmate. Raised by a stern evangelical mother, Jess' life comprises Bible readings and shaking her little tambourine for Jesus. When she meets Melanie, her feelings of friendship turn to passion and scandalise her domineering mother and the local pastor. Jess must now decide between following her own heart or the path of life set out for her by others. Produced by the BBC and adapted for the screen by Winterson herself, this television drama garnered acclaim from both critics and the public alike.

Customer Reviews

HOW IT SHOULD BE DONE
This is still the bench mark for the making of any film about love,sexuality, and relationships about young people, especially in the 12years to 20years age group.In fact "Oranges" should be required viewing for any person making a film about blossoming sexuality, without being either trite, judgemental, holier than though or hysterical!
Simply brilliant!

When BBC Drama Was Truly Great
I was about ten or maybe eleven when Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit was broadcast on BBC2. With a Dad that worked nights, my Mum for some reason allowed me to watch it alone with her, despite its (some would say) raunchy subject matter.

Back then BBC Drama was peerless, and there are many programmes of that time that I have had the pleasure of discovering anew, or indeed have remained with me to this day.

Oranges, is one of them.

I recently purchased the DVD to watch it again for the first time in 20 years, the first time since I was 10, and its uncanny how much I can remember from that first viewing. Just the opening bars of that haunting theme tune transported me back to 1989 and sent the hairs up on the back of my neck.

Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit is a story that will stay with you, and a superior drama that once seen is never forgotten. I am proof of that, and I'm glad my Mum would allow me to sample such things even at a young age. I suppose it's made me who I am.

Hilarious (its laced with wonderful North West wit and observation) gripping, poignant and touching, with superb performances all round - in particular the lovely and talented Charlotte Coleman, who died far too young - it deserves your attention.

A level subject
My daughter thought this book was weird, it is be used for an A level English Lit.