Product Description

Cheryl Dunye's debut feature is as controversial as it is sexy and funny. Cheryl is a twenty-something black lesbian working as a clerk in a video store while struggling to make a documentary about Fae Richards, an obscure black actress from the 1930's. Cheryl is surprised to discover that Richards (known populary as "the Watermelon Woman") had a white lesbian lover. At the same time, Cheryl falls in love with a very cute white customer at the video store (Guinevere Turner from Go Fish).

Such are the complexities of race and sex in this startlingly fresh debut, which has been attacked by conservative Congressmen for having been funded by the NEA and lavishingly praised in the editorial pages for being charming and courageous.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #17929 in DVD
• Released on: 2000-05-09
• Rating: Unrated
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 93 minutes

Amazon.com
Cheryl Dunye has transcended the usual pitfalls that pockmark most lesbian-themed movies: specifically, the usual angst and suffering that occur when the gay gal falls for a heterosexual friend. The Watermelon Woman is more a cultural document, addressing speculative sociological gay history themes with an interesting and engaging cover story about a video store clerk named Cheryl (played by Dunye) who, in her research for a movie, comes across an old-time black actress simply called "the watermelon woman" and becomes obsessed with her persona. In the process, Cheryl finds herself embroiled in a relationship that parallels that of her icon.

What makes The Watermelon Woman special is its layered story line and its willingness to present its characters as comically flawed. Dunye also creates an aura of mystique around the enigmatic watermelon woman, and her life and tribulations become fascinating to the viewer. Even Camille Paglia shows up to make commentary about the "actress," and while the story-within-a-story concept is tricky, the power and purpose of the movie emerges, and the character becomes as fascinating as if she were flesh and blood. --Paula Nechak

Review
A wry and exhilarating comedy, at once romantic and sharply observant! --Los Angeles Times

Review
Saucy, daring, hilarious & exhilarating! --Boston Phoenix

Customer Reviews

Widening the Spectrum: Multiple Issues, Multiple Minorities
As a lesbian film student of color, I find inspiration in Cheryl Dunye's vision. "The Watermelon Woman" seamlessly weaves together the issues of race relations, ethnic and lesbian identity construction, and prevailing oppression in all its subtleties. Setting up the film as a pseudo-documentary of an aspiring filmmaker's research on a Black lesbian actor from the thirties counterpoints a historical context of these issues, with its modern manifestations. An excellent film from a multiple-minority perspective. The acting may call for more training, but the successful execution of the issues excuses the sometimes contrived reading of lines. The portrayal of Guin Turner's naively ignorant character (a white woman who prefers men and women of African-descent) was well written and played. The film illustrated race relations on many sides of the issue -- the relations between people of the same race and cross-racial relations. Funny, as well as socially valuable, "The Watermelon Woman" is one of those rare films that reaffirm my expectations for film: not just as a form of entertainment or art, but as a tool for social commentary.

A Trip Out Film!
This Film is very Creative&Eye-Opening.it Shows The World&Lives of Lesbian Women.it deals with Race,Sex&Class Issues.i happen to catch it on B.E.T Starz's&it kept my attention.it showed the flaws of The Women&everyday struggles&Battles they went thru.I wish HBO,Showtime,etc...would also show this film for a wider audience.because this Film Balance's out alot of things.it's a trip out film!

Excellent portrayal of the artistic process...
This movie is the story of a woman that wishes to become a film-maker. She becomes obsessed with an actress from the 30's - and begins searching for information on her, and films a documentary in the process. Soon, the lead's love life begins paralleling the actress that she is researching.

This film can be viewed on several levels... as a (lesbian) love story... a romantic comedy, if you will. It can be viewed as a story about African American women finding their place in an urban society. Or it can be viewed as a study of the creative process.

The love story bored me (luckily both Cheryl Dunye and Guineviere Turner are both really hot!)... but the exploration and struggle of the artistic journeys of Cheryl was very interesting. Any film-maker, artist, photographer, etc. would enjoy this movie... and it should not be dismissed as another silly, unrealistic lesbian love story.