Strange Fruit (2004)

100% of critics liked it
(13 reviews)
44% of users liked it
(138 ratings)

A gay African-American man returns to his small Louisiana hometown and finds himself forced to face old demons in this thought-provoking drama from director Kyle Schickner. When William (Kent Faulcon), a successful New York lawyer, hears that his boyhood friend has been lynched, he returns home to… More A gay African-American man returns to his small Louisiana hometown and finds himself forced to face old demons in this thought-provoking drama from director Kyle Schickner. When William (Kent Faulcon), a successful New York lawyer, hears that his boyhood friend has been lynched, he returns home to see the killers face justice. But he's shocked to find the blatant racism and homophobia he ran away from years ago still have a strong hold.

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 58 min.
Directed By: Kyle Schickner
Genres: Documentary, Drama, Mystery & Suspense, Gay & Lesbian, Special Interest

In Theaters: Jun 22, 2005 Wide
On DVD: Sep 19, 2006

Critic Reviews

Wesley Morris, Boston Globe
Good, if unremarkable.
Edward Guthmann, San Francisco Chronicle
In his excellent documentary, also called Strange Fruit, filmmaker Joel Katz takes a fascinating look at the origins and impact of a ballad that's been called 'one of ten songs that changed the world.'
Andrew Sarris, New York Observer
This is a film well worth seeing, talking and singing heads and all.
Dave Kehr, New York Times
Polished, well-structured film.
Lou Lumenick, New York Post
An absorbing documentary.
Laura Sinagra, Village Voice
Mining the song's associative richness, Katz's film works as jazz genealogy, Meerpol bio, Jewish-leftist puzzle piece, performance homage, and exegetic history of lynching.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, San Francisco Examiner
It's a talking head documentary, but a great one.
Robin Clifford, Reeling Reviews
"Strange Fruit"...should be mandatory viewing by all students old enough to understand the meaning and importance of the haunting song.
Laura Clifford, Reeling Reviews
Katz uses archival footage, horrifying documents of lynchings, still photographs and charming old reel-to-reel recordings of Meeropol entertaining his children to create his song history, but most powerful of all is the song itself
Pam Grady, Reel.com
Though only 60 minutes long, the film is packed with information and impressions.
Prairie Miller, WBAI Web Radio
Provocatively enlightens us on the fascinating origins and social convulsions created by the song Strange Fruit, and its profound connection to the progressive movements of the last century.
Maitland McDonagh, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Katz's documentary doesn't have much panache, but with material this rich it doesn't need it.

Read all 12 critic reviews

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