Strange fruit film joel katz

In his excellent documentary, also called strange fruit, filmmaker joel katz takes a fascinating look at the origins and impact of a ballad thats been called one of ten songs that changed the. Strange fruit is the first documentary exploring the history and legacy of the billie. The film focuses on the personal lives of the band members and those closest to. Come out to the chapel hill landmark, varsity theatre, for a screening of strange fruit, the first documentary exploring the history and legacy of the billie holiday classic. Named in 1999 the song of the millennium by time magazine, and bestknown from billie holidays haunting 1939 rendition, the song strange fruit is a harrowing portrayal of the lynching of a black man in the american south. Strange fruit documentary caps mlk weekend events millburnshort hills, nj mlk martin luther king day. Strange fruit is the first documentary exploring the history and legacy of the billie holiday classic. These are the opening words to one of the worlds most famous protest songs.

Strange fruit documentary caps mlk weekend events west orange, nj mlk martin luther king day. It is the story of billie holiday and abel meeropol in their quest to shed light on racial injustice, especially lynching, in america. While many people assume strange fruit was written by billie holiday, it actually began as a poem by a jewish schoolteacher and union activist from the bronx, who later set it to music. This history of the songs evolution tells a dramatic story of americas radical past using one of the most influential protest songs ever written as its epicenter. Strange fruit is a song about lynching and made famous by. Motion picture film stills or motion picture footage from films in momas film collection cannot be licensed by momascala. In a one hour running time, katz explores how a white jewish schoolteacher came to write the song which holiday claimed, incorrectly, was written for her and which was later adopted by the civil rights movement. Lou rawls and cassandra wilson, whose bluesy version closes the film. Strange fruit is a song performed by billie holiday, who first sang and recorded it in 1939. The focus of the book is largely on billie holiday and her relationship to strange fruit. Strange fruit 2003 joel katz on allmovie if half the battle of making a good documentary. The bluegrass special billie holiday strange fruit. The songs evolution tells a dramatic story of americas radical past using one of the most influential protest songs ever.

Named in 1999 the song of the millennium by time magazine, and bestknown from billie holidays haunting 1939 rendition, the song strange fruit is a harrowing. For screenings on 35mm film, please contact the producer, joel katz by. Pbs film traces roots of strange fruit the edwardsville. Strange fruit documentary caps mlk weekend events west. This video is a documentary about the antilynching song strange fruit recorded in 1939 by jazz singer billie holiday. A unique opportunity to join joel katz, producer, director, and editor of strange fruit, for a screening of this important documentary. Reviews the historical events, contexts and incidents of racial hatred that the songs title represents, and then the subsequent performances by billie holiday that brought the song and its message to a national audience. Still crazy is a 1998 british comedy film directed by brian gibson. San francisco, ca joel katz s mesmerizing strange fruit is an hourlong documentary essay exploring the history and legacy of a song unique in the annals of american music. Bestknown from billie holidays haunting 1939 rendition, the song strange fruit is a harrowing. Not many people know that strange fruit, the controversial song about the shameful lynching of blacks in the united states, made famous by the late billie holiday, was, in fact, written by a jewish schoolteacher from the bronx named abel meeropol. Joel katz s strange fruit, a documentary on the haunting and controversial song written about lynchings and. Twenty years later, all of the band members are minding their own. Jan 09, 2017 strange fruit documentary caps mlk weekend events west orange, nj mlk martin luther king day.

Strange fruit had everything that makes a legendary rockband. Katz will introduce the film and answer questions after the screening. Strange fruit explores the history and legacy of a song unique in the annals of american music. Strange fruit, a polished, wellstructured documentary written and directed by joel katz, relates the intricate and intriguing history of the title. Bestknown from billie holidays haunting 1939 rendition, the song strange fruit is a. Disturbed by a photograph of a lynching, abel meeropol wrote the stark verse and brooding melody about the horror of lynching under the pseudonym lewis allan in 1938. The films director, joel katz, will be on hand to answer questions. The rosenwald initiative will screen the 2002 documentary film strange fruit about the iconic protest song made famous by billie holiday at union baptist church, 1405 e. May 20, 2002 in 1937, after seeing a photo depicting the lynching of a black man in the south, bronxborn high school teacher abel meeropol wrote a poem entitled strange fruit that begins with the words. The film, directed by joel katz, gives greater emphasis to meeropols story, and also presents. Strange fruit was first telecast as a presentation of the pbs anthology independent lens.

He set the poem to music and a few years later convinced billy holiday to record it in a legendary heartbreaking. An exploration of the history and legacy of strange fruit, the song first recorded by billie holliday in 1939 which has become an enduring anthem of american civil rights. With dorothy thigpen, milton gabler, farah jasmine griffin, c. Strange fruit california newsreel film and video for. Such lynchings had reached a peak in the south at the turn of the century, but continued there and in other regions of the united states. Written by a jewish american from the bronx and famously recorded in 1939 by. Joel katz s film touches as well on meeropols link to another part of 20thcentury american history. Filmmaker joel katz discusses why he made strange fruit, how audiences have reacted to the film and how a song can change the world. Strange fruit is a 1944 bestselling novel debut by american author lillian smith that deals with the thenforbidden and controversial theme of interracial romance.

Joel katz s strange fruit is a meditation on the song of the same name that chillingly relates the story of a lynching. Oct 21, 2014 music video by annie lennox performing strange fruit. Sprung from the pen of a bronx schoolteacher, the hit continues to mesmerize musicians and civil rights advocates alike with its chilling vision of a lynching. It is the story of billie holiday and abel meeropol in their quest to shed light. Written by teacher abel meeropol as a poem and published in 1937, it protested american racism, particularly the lynching of african americans. Its music and lyrics were written by abel meerpol pen name lewis allan a bronx public school teacher but are attributed to billie holiday, who first sang strange fruit in 1939 at barney josephsons cafe society, new yorks first integrated nightclub. Nov 06, 2002 strange fruit, a polished, wellstructured documentary written and directed by joel katz, relates the intricate and intriguing history of the title song, a pioneering attempt to inject social.

Bestknown from billie holidays haunting 1939 rendition. Jan 08, 2003 in his excellent documentary, also called strange fruit, filmmaker joel katz takes a fascinating look at the origins and impact of a ballad thats been called one of ten songs that changed the. Strange fruit, a polished, wellstructured documentary written and directed by joel katz, relates the intricate and intriguing history. The film, directed by joel katz, gives greater emphasis to meeropols story, and also presents interviews dealing with the historic and contemporary significance of the song. Southern trees bear a strange fruit, begins the protest song made famous by billie holiday and recorded by artists as various as ella fitzgerald, pete seeger, tori amos, little jimmy scott. An exploration of the history and legacy of strange fruit, the song first recorded by billie holliday in 1939. Won 2003 atlanta jewish film festival, audience winner, joel katz director won 2002 doubletake documentary film festival, jury award honorable mention, joel katz won 2003 organization of american historians, honorable mention, joel katz won 2002 usa film festival, nonfiction, joel katz. Disturbed by a photograph of a lynching, abel meeropol wrote the stark verse and brooding melody about the horror of lynching under the pseudonym lewis allan in. The songs evolution tells a dramatic story of americas radical past using one of the most influential protest songs ever written as its epicenter.

Naturally, this 60minute documentary includes film clips of billie holiday performing the title song in her only tv appearance, in 1958, as well as renditions by such activistartists as pete seeger, josh white, and cassandra wilson. With stephen rea, billy connolly, jimmy nail, timothy spall. This film won 4th place at the 2006 national history day. Thats one of the many fascinating facts revealed in joel katz s illuminating look at. Strange fruit documentary screening the university of. In 1937, after seeing a photo depicting the lynching of a black man in the south, bronxborn high school teacher abel meeropol wrote a poem entitled strange. Oct 20, 2007 this film won 4th place at the 2006 national history day. Strange fruit by joel katz to premiere nationally on itvss new series on pbs documentary on the unforgettable song made famous by billie holiday explores its unending impact and the fascinating life of its unsung composer strange fruit airs nationally on independent lens april 8, 2003 at 10. Strange fruit is a song about lynching and made famous by billie holiday as she sang it in the late 1930s. Joel katz s mesmerizing strange fruit is a documentary essay exploring the history and legacy of a song unique in the annals of american music. The plot concerns a fictional 1970s rock band named strange fruit, who, after being split up for two decades, are persuaded to get back together to perform at a reunion of the same concert venue where they played their last gig. In 1937, after seeing a photo depicting the lynching of a black man in the south, bronxborn high school teacher abel meeropol wrote a poem entitled strange fruit that begins with the words. Music video by annie lennox performing strange fruit.

Thats one of the many fascinating facts revealed in joel katz s illuminating look at one of the most controversial, disquieting and. While many people assume strange fruit was written by billie holiday, it actually began as a poem by a jewish. Joel katz as music and film seem to go hand in hand nowadays 8 mile, standing in the shadows of motown, here comes a documentary that gives history to the root of the song. In his excellent documentary, also called strange fruit, filmmaker joel katz takes a fascinating look at the origins and impact of a ballad. Twenty years later, all of the band members are minding their own businesses, the idea of a band. Strange fruit, documentary that explores the history and legacy of the song, directed and produced by joel katz. Originally using the working title jordan is so chilly, smith later changed the title to strange fruit prior to its publication. A examination of the antilynching protest song made famous by billie holiday. Strange fruit alexander street, a proquest company. Documentarian joel katz traces the roots of the protest song popularized by billy holiday in 1939, strange fruit. The film radio stations banned it, but when billie holiday sang strange fruit the whole world listened anyway.