The Watermelon Woman

The Watermelon Woman

🎞️ Movie 90 min US
โ˜… 7.1 /10 1996

Sometimes you have to create your own history.

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.

Cast

Cheryl Dunye
Cheryl Dunye
Cheryl
Guinevere Turner
Guinevere Turner
Diana
๐Ÿ‘ค
Valarie Walker
Tamara
๐Ÿ‘ค
Lisa Marie Bronson
Fae 'The Watermelon Woman' Richards
๐Ÿ‘ค
Cheryl Clarke
June Walker
๐Ÿ‘ค
Irene Dunye
Irene Dunye
๐Ÿ‘ค
Brian Freeman
Lee Edwards
๐Ÿ‘ค
Ira Jeffries
Shirley Hamilton
๐Ÿ‘ค
Alexandra Juhasz
Martha Page
Camille Paglia
Camille Paglia
Camille Paglia
๐Ÿ‘ค
Paul Shapiro
Composer
๐Ÿ‘ค
Michelle Crenshaw
Cinematographer

๐ŸŽฌ Videos

BFI at Home: The Watermelon Woman Q&A
โ–ถ
Featurette
BFI at Home: The Watermelon Woman Q&A
Mark Kermode Reviews Watermelon Woman (1996)
โ–ถ
Featurette
Mark Kermode Reviews Watermelon Woman (1996)
A Flirty Customer
โ–ถ
Clip
A Flirty Customer
"I'm very attracted to you"
โ–ถ
Clip
"I'm very attracted to you"
Cheryl Explains it All
โ–ถ
Clip
Cheryl Explains it All
Trailer
โ–ถ
Trailer
Trailer