X
  • 1997
  • Unrated
  • First Run Features
  • 1 h 30 m
  • 1997
  • Unrated
  • First Run Features
  • 1 h 30 m

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 fa...

Directed By: Cheryl Dunye

Written By: Douglas McKeown, Cheryl Dunye

  • 1997
  • Unrated
  • First Run Features
  • 1 h 30 m
  • 1997
  • Unrated
  • First Run Features
  • 1 h 30 m

The Watermelon Woman

Metascore Generally Favorable Based on 11 Critic Reviews
74
User Score Generally Favorable Based on 8 User Ratings
6.1
My Score
Hover and click to give a rating Saved

Where to Watch

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 fa...

Directed By: Cheryl Dunye

Written By: Douglas McKeown, Cheryl Dunye

Where to Watch

Top Cast

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Critic Reviews

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Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 11 Critic Reviews
74
82% Positive
9 Reviews
18% Mixed
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews

Critic Reviews

 View All
Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 11 Critic Reviews
74
82% Positive
9 Reviews
18% Mixed
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
90
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.
By Serena Donadoni FULL REVIEW
88
The Watermelon Woman is quite smart, remarkably sophisticated filmmaking for a first-time director.
FULL REVIEW
80
Philadelphia filmmaker Cheryl Dunye has such a light, easy touch both in front and in back of the camera that you're in danger of not noticing how skillful a craftsman she really is or how deftly she raises serious issues of race and sexual orientation in The Watermelon Woman.
By Kevin Thomas FULL REVIEW
78
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.
By Marjorie Baumgarten FULL REVIEW
75
Dunye's engaging personality quickly wins you over. She deserves to be a character in a movie; she's more interesting than most.
By Ruthe Stein FULL REVIEW
63
Although Watermelon Woman is at times rudimentary and slight, it's saved by its humor and its way of tweaking political correctness. [9 May 1997, p.C6]
By Jay Carr FULL REVIEW
50
Although it contains funny moments, the deliberately disjointed whole is too cute for its own good.
FULL REVIEW

User Reviews

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User Score
Generally Favorable Based on 8 User Ratings
6.1
63% Positive
5 Ratings
25% Mixed
2 Ratings
13% Negative
1 Rating

User Reviews

 View All
User Score
Generally Favorable Based on 8 User Ratings
6.1
63% Positive
5 Ratings
25% Mixed
2 Ratings
13% Negative
1 Rating

There are no user reviews yet. Be the first to add a review.

Details

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Production Company Dancing Girl
Release Date Mar 5, 1997
Duration 1 h 30 m
Rating Unrated
Genres
View All Details

Awards

Berlin International Film Festival
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
L.A. Outfest
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
Cinema Eye Honors Awards, US
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination

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