The Watermelon Woman

Name: The Watermelon Woman
Genre: Drama
Released: March 5, 1997
Duration: 90 min
Rating: 74

1997

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 11 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 6 Ratings

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5.8

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5.8	Your Score
5.8	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 6 Ratings

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The Watermelon Woman

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Movie Details & Credits

First Run Features | Release Date: March 5, 1997 | Not Rated

Summary: Cheryl (Cheryl Dunye) 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 popularly as "the Watermelon Woman") had a white lesbian lover. At the same time, Cheryl fallsCheryl (Cheryl Dunye) 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 popularly 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. [First Run Features]… Expand

Director: Cheryl Dunye

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 90 min

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Critic Reviews

Serena Donadoni

Funny and smart, full of biting humor and astute observations about identity and history, Cheryl Dunye's audacious, joyous debut feature captures the process of falling hopelessly in love with the movies. Read full review

Clayton Dillard

It's a film of such multitudinous interests and storytelling pursuits that its unfolding replicates the ecstasy of newfound romance. Read full review

Achy Obejas

The Watermelon Woman is quite smart, remarkably sophisticated filmmaking for a first-time director. Read full review

Marjorie Baumgarten

Dunye's film is smart, sexy (the interracial lesbian lovemaking scene prompted an infamous little ruckus over at the NEA a while back), funny, historically aware, and stunningly contemporary. Read full review

Ruthe Stein

Dunye's engaging personality quickly wins you over. She deserves to be a character in a movie; she's more interesting than most. Read full review

Steven Rea

The Watermelon Woman is a thoughtful, charming movie that takes its audience along on a journey of self-discovery - without ever taking itself too seriously. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

Although it contains funny moments, the deliberately disjointed whole is too cute for its own good. Read full review

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User Reviews

JLuis_001

Jul 17, 2022

While I never felt it did anything really relevant, to witness a film from the 90's presenting a young black gay woman's experience so loosely without the need to exploit unnecessary drama was quite surprising to me.

Certainly the script uses as a plot device a racial background as is theWhile I never felt it did anything really relevant, to witness a film from the 90's presenting a young black gay woman's experience so loosely without the need to exploit unnecessary drama was quite surprising to me.

Certainly the script uses as a plot device a racial background as is the documentary that the protagonist is trying to put together, but this has more to do with the focus on identity that the director explores through that concept than something more thematically charged.

Very low budget, but truly practical and effective.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Beecee

Mar 16, 2017

There is a germ of a good idea here. An African American lesbian, a budding filmmaker who works at a video store, becomes entranced by a minor black actress of the 1930's, known only as "Watermelon Woman". If this had been more of a road movie, it might have worked. But much of the filmThere is a germ of a good idea here. An African American lesbian, a budding filmmaker who works at a video store, becomes entranced by a minor black actress of the 1930's, known only as "Watermelon Woman". If this had been more of a road movie, it might have worked. But much of the film takes place in a video store. The film suffers from amateur actors, poor cinematography, and a weak plot. There is some resemblance to "Go Fish", which has a lot of the same flaws. Although there is some interest in seeing a community that rarely appears in films, and there is an interesting cameo with Camille Paglia, this film would mainly be of interest to those middle-aged lesbians who are willing to overlook its flaws.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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25	#25 Best Movie of 1997
58	#58 Most Shared Movie of 1997