Stars: Geraldine McEwan, Kenneth Cranham, Charlotte Coleman

Director: Beeban Kidron

Summary: The adopted daughter of a religious woman begins school where she unnerves other students with her wild talk. Her relationship with another girl student falls under the scrutiny of her mother who believes the devil is at work. Based on the novel by Jeanette Winterson.

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's life is comprised of Bible readings and shaking her little tambourine for Jesus. When she meets Melanie, her feelings of friendship turn to passion and scandalize 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.

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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

Aspect Ratio:	4:3 Full Frame
Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Special Features:	38 minute interview with the writer Jeanette Winterton and Jeremy Issacs,
Year:	1990
Release Date:	June 30, 2008
Runtime:	165 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	B B C D V D 2515
Keywords:	Not, General, Only, Fruit, Oranges, Tv, Drama, Jeanette, Winterson
Genre:	Drama