An investigation into film history that doubles as a romantic comedy, The Watermelon Woman is the first US feature directed by an ‘out’ Black lesbian.
This screening of the film is paired with filmmaker Cheryl Dunye's LITTLE-SEEN short films which show her progression as an artist creating work that led to the making of this landmark film.
The Watermelon Woman
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 herself becomes romantically involved with a white girl called Diana.
The Early Works of Cheryl Dunye
Vilified by conservatives in Congress, defended by major newspapers, and celebrated by audiences and festivals around the world as one of the most provocative, humorous and important filmmakers of our time, Cheryl Dunye practically invented a new form of cinema. Using a mixture of narrative and documentary techniques, the ‘Dunyementary’ challenges social and cultural norms through a sharply funny and reflexive lens. Never scholarly or didactic, Dunye appreciates the value in entertaining viewers.
Presented here are the films that started it all – select early works which gave birth to an extraordinary and original filmmaking talent. Made with great creativity on often miniscule budgets, they represent the first chapter of the Cheryl Dunye oeuvre.
Tickets:
Full price: £11.15 (Includes £1.20 booking fee applied to online orders)
Concessions: £9.15 (Includes £1.20 booking fee applied to online orders)
MORE information
Director: Cheryl Dunye
Screenwriter: Cheryl Dunye, Douglas McKeown
Producers: Benjy Blanco, Cheryl Dunye, Benjamin Goldberg, Alexandra Juhasz, Judy LeBold, Zoe Leonard, Michael Light, Joy Malinowski, Burke Moody, Marc Smolowitz, Barry Swimar, Annie Taylor, Cate Wilson
Talent: Cheryl Dunye, Valarie Walker, Guinevere Turner
Country of Origin: USA
Age rating: 15
Content guidance:
Sex + nudity: Moderate
Violence + gore: None
Profanity: Mild
Alcohol, drugs + smoking: Mild
Frightening + intense scenes: None
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