Announcing Strange Fruit

To mark Black History Month, we’re excited to share the trailer for Strange Fruit, a new dance film created and choreographed by Kevin Edward Turner.  

Inspired by Billie Holiday’s famous song, the film draws focus to the brutal practice of lynching and the historical struggle that people of colour have endured.

Co-directed and edited by Ben Williams, the short film features a powerful and tender performance by Company Dancer, Kadafi Mulula, the solo dancer in the film.

As we share the film’s trailer, we go behind the scenes of the film in a Q&A with Kevin, who tells us more about why he decided to make the film and what he hopes the film will achieve.

1) What is the film about?

The film is inspired by the famous song by Billie Holiday called Strange Fruit. The song takes inspiration from the brutal and dehumanising act of lynching in the Jim Crow South, a period from the later part of the 19th century until the mid 20th century civil right movement, when state and local laws enforced racial segregation in the American south. Lynching has always been used throughout the slavery period to subjugate and control slaves. After the American civil war, through the reconstruction period until the 20th century civil rights era. Lynching was used as an act of terror against those of African descent in the U.S.

2) What inspired the making of the film?

The song was my initial inspiration, it spoke to me deeply and moves me every time I hear it. I wanted to draw focus to the brutal practice of lynching and the historical struggle that people of colour have endured. To see the depth of violence that happens when you label someone not human or sub human.

3) Describe the choreography

The choreography is contemporary in nature , it has a plethora of images, sensations and situations that the performer experiences and endures.

It is physical, athletic, yet has tender broken moments that show the performer’s vulnerabilities and the effects of such dehumanising brutality.

4) Describe the creative process and the importance of the creative team working with you on the film.

This work made itself to a degree because of the strong connection between the music and the movement. It draws inspiration from the lyrics of the song and the countless images and testimonials that were found in researching the piece.