Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit

• Director: Beeban Kidron
• AMG Rating:
• Genre: Comedy Drama
• Movie Type: Coming-of-Age, Gay & Lesbian Films
• Themes: Sexual Awakening, Mothers and Daughters, First Love
• Main Cast: Charlotte Coleman, Geraldine McEwan
• Release Year: 1989
• Country: UK
• Run Time: 165 minutes

Plot

Filmed in Britain, Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit stars Charlotte Coleman as a champing-at-the-bit teenager named Jess. The girl's domineering mother (Geraldine McEwan), a religious fanatic, wants Jess to become a missionary; to that end, she refuses to allow the girl any friends her own age. Jess' father has nothing to say in the matter--indeed, he has had nothing to say to anyone for years. The girl's growing awareness of her own sexuality (depicted in steamy detail) flies in the face of her mother's carefully orchestrated plans. Funny in a dark sort of way, Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit was first seen in America over the Arts and Entertainment cable service in late 1990. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Cast

Cathryn Bradshaw - Melani; Kenneth Cranham - Pastor Finch; Freda Dowie - Mrs. Green; Richard Henders - Graham; Barbara Hicks - Cissy; Geraldine McEwan - Mother; Elizabeth Spriggs - May; Sophie Thursfield - Jess's real mother; Charlotte Coleman - Jess; Emily Aston; Peter Gordon - William

Credit

Les Lansdown - Costume Designer, Beeban Kidron - Director, Rachel Portman - Composer (Music Score), Jeanette Winterson - Screenwriter

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Gregory's Girl; My Beautiful Laundrette; Sweetie; The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love; Beautiful Thing; Citizen Ruth; My Son the Fanatic; Ma Vie en Rose; Get Real; But I'm a Cheerleader; The Holy Girl