The Watermelon Woman

– Cheryl, a young black lesbian, works a day job in a video store while trying to make a film about a ..

Type:
Movie
Rating:
6.60 / 10
Duration:
One Hour and 30 Minutes
Release Year:
1996
The Watermelon Woman (1996)

Cheryl, a young black lesbian, works a day job in a video store while trying to make a film about a black actress from the 1930s known for playing the stereotypical "mammy" roles relegated to black actresses during that period. This was the first feature film directed by a black lesbian.

Producing Country:
USA
Genre:
Release Date:

05 Mar 1997

Language:

English

MPAA Content-Rating:
Unrated

Director:

Cheryl Dunye

Writer:

Cheryl Dunye

Main Actors:

Cheryl Dunye, Guinevere Turner, Valarie Walker, Lisa Marie Bronson

Plot:

Cheryl is young, Black, and lesbian, working in Philadelphia with her best friend Tamara and consumed by a film project: to make a video about her search for a Black actress from Philly who appeared in films in the 30s and was known as the Watermelon Woman. Following various leads, Cheryl discovers the Watermelon Woman's stage name and real name and surmises that the actress had a long affair with Martha Page, a White woman and one of Hollywood's few female directors. As she's discovering these things, Cheryl becomes involved with Diana, who's also White. The affair strains Cheryl's friendship with Tamara. More discoveries bring Cheryl (and us, her audience) to new realizations.

Awards:

2 wins.

Production:

Dancing Girl Productions

Ratings:
Internet Movie Database:
6.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes:
100%
Metacritic:
74%