Movie Description

Strange Fruit

(2002)

Overview

In 1937, after seeing a photo depicting the lynching of a black man in the south, Bronx-born high school teacher Abel Meeropol wrote a poem entitled "Strange Fruit" that begins with the words: "Southern trees bear a strange fruit / Blood on the leaves and blood at the root." He set the poem to music and a few years later convinced Billy holiday to record it in a legendary heartbreaking performance. Intertwining jazz genealogy, biography, performance footage, and the history of lynching, director Joel Katz fashions a fascinating discovery of the lost story behind a true American classic. Written by Excerpted from Coolidge Corner Theatre Program Update

Cast

Posters

Facts

Original TitleStrange Fruit

Status Released

Release Information

  • 2002-05-20

Original LanguageEnglish

Runtime 00h 57m

Homepagehttp://www.pbs.org/independentlens/strangefruit/film.html

Genres

  • Music
  • Documentary